Our office is located on Main Street in Lakemont Park at 166 Lakemont Park Boulevard in Altoona, Pa 16602     Directions/Map

Bone Grafting

Bone grafts are used to help reconstruct tooth support lost to periodontal disease.  Bone grafts work best where "crater-like" bony defects are located around the teeth.  During gum surgery these defects are exposed, cleaned, and filled with bone graft material.  The gum tissues is then replaced against the teeth and covers the bone graft.  Bone grafts offer the most predictable means for restoring lost boney support around carefully selected teeth.  Some defects do not fill 100% and often partial success must be accepted.  If bone grafts are not used, the chances for restoring lost bone support is significantly reduced.

Very small portions of bone are used during grafting.  When adequate amounts of donor bone cannot be found in your mouth (autografts), bone from accredited and certified tissue banks is used to supplement your own bone (allografts).  This bone is granulated, freeze-dried, and sent to us in sterile vials.  Donors have been screened and tested for AIDS and Hepatitis.  Although no guarantee of complete safety can be made, freeze-dried bone has demonstrated both safety and efficacy in clinical research and subsequent use in periodontal therapy.  No disease related to the use of freeze-dried donor bone has been reported in over thirty years of extensive use in orthopedic and periodontal surgery. Read more about bone graft safety here.

Additionally, regenerative barriers or membrane materials are used to increase the predictability of the bone graft.  Membranes allow regeneration in more advanced areas and are good to use on teeth that require increased bone attachment.  Membranes are made of collagen a material with extensive research and clinical success. Read about the advantages of membranes here.

Postoperative infection can cause graft failure, therefore, antibiotics are prescribed to help prevent this possibility. Effective oral hygiene is important for graft success during the early healing period (first four to six weeks postoperatively). Effective daily plaque control and periodontal maintenance provide the keys to long-term success.