In order to be considered a good candidate for dental implants, you must have sufficient jawbone structure to safely and effectively support the tooth restoration. For individuals who do not have adequate bone structure, bone grafting is an advanced procedure than can often be performed to help regenerate lost bone and/or add extra volume to the jawbone, ultimately providing an excellent foundation for dental implants while improving your overall oral health.

At Bethesda Sedation Dentistry, we routinely complete bone grafting with leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). Using this state-of-the-art method, patients have benefited from new bone and tissue growth, the strengthening and regeneration of existing bone, minimal discomfort and swelling, and even faster healing of the soft tissue covering the new bone in comparison to traditional bone grafting techniques.

Am I a Candidate for Bone Grafting?

Whether caused by periodontal disease, trauma, or another factor, you may be a candidate for a bone graft prior to dental implant surgery if you are affected by one or more of the following:

Insufficient jawbone density
Jawbone deterioration/recession after tooth loss
Jawbone fracture(s)

Using our innovative bone grafting techniques, our highly experienced cosmetic dentists, Dr. Deborah Klotz and Dr. Robert Schlossberg, can help restore proper jawbone structure and significantly increase the chance for successful—and often permanent—dental implant results.

How Is Bone Grafting Performed?

Dr. Rob and Dr. Deb have the ability to perform bone grafting with the aid of leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF)—a biocompatible substance that works to enhance the healing, strengthening, and regeneration of bone tissue via elements found naturally in the blood. To make L-PRF, your dentist will collect a small quantity of your own blood using routine laboratory techniques, and place it into a specifically designed centrifuge, right here in our office. The centrifuge then rapidly spins the vial until a compressed clot of platelet-rich fibrin takes shape and becomes isolated from other components of the blood. Once formed and separated, the L-PRF clot is transferred from the vial to a special compression system that is utilized to excrete any additional liquid, ultimately yielding a thin layer of highly concentrated growth and healing factors.

Following the preparation of L-PRF, your dentist will then carefully place both the small bone graft(s) and L-PRF membrane adjacent to your existing jawbone structure, enabling your gum and bone tissue to regenerate around the newly implanted graft for an ample amount of strength and durability—a process that is facilitated by L-PRF. In addition to helping provide enough support for the titanium implant post, preserving and/or building new bone can aid in the health and aesthetics of gum tissues surrounding the new restoration.

With advanced sedation dentistry options available, the bone grafting procedure can be performed more comfortably and efficiently than ever before, typically allowing you to return home the same day with minimal to no downtime or pain following surgery.

It is important to note that L-PRF is not used for all bone grafting treatments. In the event it is not utilized, the overall process remains virtually the same, simply without the added L-PRF steps. At the time of your consultation, Dr. Deb or Dr. Rob can determine whether bone grafting with our without L-PRF would be best for you.

Contact Bethesda Sedation Dentistry

For more information about bone grafting prior to dental implant surgery, or if you are interested in scheduling an appointment with one of our skilled dentists, please contact our office today.