Chances are pretty good that you have heard the phrase dental implants tossed around a few times, even if you dont know much about what they are. Bone grafting, on the other hand, is a much less commonly known phrase. This is a touch on the ironic side because bone grafting and dental implants go hand in hand in the dental industry.

Bone grafting is a technique that is required when a patient does not have a sufficient amount of healthy natural bones in his or her mouth that are capable of supporting the dental implants. This deficiency of natural bones can be caused by:

A bone graft is a surgical procedure to repair, or rebuild, bones through the transplantation of bone tissue. By transplanting healthy bone tissue we can recreate bone and supporting tissues that are missing.

Anyone who has lost a tooth might need a bone graft before it is possible to place a dental implant. This is true even if you come in to ask for a dental implant the day after you lose the tooth. The socket could be infected, or the lost tooth could be the wrong size to support an immediate replacement.

Of course, most people dont come in for an implant the same day they lose the tooth. Sometimes the reason is financial. Sometimes its logistical. Either way, bone loss occurs every day the tooth is missing.

The type of bone that typically gets into trouble is called the alveolar bone. Alveolar bone has one job: supporting and holding your teeth. If theres no tooth, then alveolar bone starts to atrophy for lack of work.

Remember, dental implants rely on osseointegration in order to workthat is, the implant has to bond with the bone to create a stable foundation for the crown. If there is no bone to work with, placing an implant becomes impossible.

The most common type of bone graft is called a socket graft. A socket grafts primary purpose is to prevent the atrophy of the alveolar bone before it can occur. We usually place bone from a human donor right into the socket. This also prevents the collapse of the socket. After a socket graft, youll typically be ready for your implant in 4-6 months. As a bonus, having one of these grafts will minimize post-operative pain from the implant surgery.

The next type of bone graft is called a lateral ridge preservation graft. These grafts are used to increase the width of the jawbone in order to accommodate a dental implant. Again, we typically use human donor bones for this.

The block bone graft is another type of graft that we use. The block bone graft is necessary when there are large defects in the jawbone. To perform the block bone graft, we harvest a small block of bone from the back of the jaw. We place the block into the defect, then hold it in place with small titanium screws.

Finally, we have the sinus lift procedure. We generally use equine bone for these so that we may expand the graft. The equine bone may be added to a human donors bone. This procedure is necessary when the patient needs an implant in the upper jaw, which is not typically stable enough to hold the implants on their own.

So, why equine bone? Because equine bone actually provides us with two unique advantages. It doesnt dissolve as quickly as human bone does and microscopically is more similar to human bone. This equine bone creates a kind of scaffold that supports the additional growth of bone in the sinus.

Not at all! We do them in our office every day. They are an outpatient procedure, and patients are typically sedated throughout the entire process. You shouldnt feel any pain as the graft heals, and, of course, when the graft is done youll be ready for your dental implants. A bone graft is simply the first step most people will have to take before theyre ready to enjoy their beautiful new replacement tooth.

After the procedure has been completed, youll be given antibiotics to prevent infection. In some cases, pain medication is given as well. Most patients who receive bone grafts are completely pain free and do just fine as long as they take the antibiotics.

Your dentist also has to wait for the bone graft to fuse with the natural bones that are already in your mouth. Unfortunately, your mouth is different from everyone elses and there is no exact time frame for how quickly this happens.

It is not uncommon for it to take anywhere from 3 months to an entire year for the bone graft to fuse with the natural bones inside of your mouth. You will come in for regular checkups until your dentist decides you are ready for the implants.

We are a modern dental implant practice specializing in minimally invasive, cone beam CT guided implants designed to allow patients to recover faster and undergo implant placement with less risk. Dr. Templeton has 20 years of experience placing dental implants and has been a leader in CT-guided, less invasive implant placement since 2009. He has successfully placed thousands of implants during his career.

Revitalize Dental Implants is dedicated to providing Edmond and the surrounding communities with modern, cost-effective dental implant solutions for missing teeth and ill-fitting or loose dentures. Dr. Templeton specializes in full-mouth reconstruction and is committed to providing the most affordable teeth-in-a-day, all-on-4, and implant supported dentures.

A full range of anesthesia options are provided ranging from in-office IV sedation, oral sedation to general anesthesia in an out-patient surgery center. Removal of impacted wisdom teeth is another very common procedure performed by Dr. Templeton and his staff.

Dr. C. Ken Templeton is a native Oklahoman. He attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma graduating with honors in 1988. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and completed a four-year surgical residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

Following an active duty stint in the United States Navy Dental Corp, he established his first private practice in Yukon, Oklahoma. Dr. Templeton sold the Yukon practice in 2008 to move back to the Tulsa area to be closer to his family. He practiced in Tulsa and Broken Arrow establishing Revitalize Dental Implants and Broken Arrow Oral Surgery. Despite having very successful practices, Dr. Templeton moved back to the OKC area in 2016 to be closer to his three sons following a divorce.

Dr. Templeton started doing minimally invasive CT guided implant procedures while in his Tulsa practice in 2009. Since this time, he has been an innovative leader in this field. CT guided implant procedures result in less invasive surgery and risk, shorter recovery time, and more predictable long- term success.

He is committed to utilizing the most up to date technology and techniques at the most affordable prices to enable more Oklahomans to enjoy the many benefits of dental implants. Dr. Templeton is in constant pursuit of the latest technology and techniques. He attends continuing education events on a regular basis to stay up with the most recent advances in CT guided implant procedures.

Dr. Templeton is dedicated to providing Edmond and the surrounding area with the most up-to-date, high-tech dental implant and oral and maxillofacial surgery techniques. This vision, coupled with Dr. Templetons commitment to providing excellent customer service, is what truly defines his practice. In his own words

Dr. Templeton is a committed father of three sons, avid bass fisherman, OU fan, and member of Life Church Edmond. He adheres to the philosophy of taking care of his patients like family and is dedicated to providing personalized, state of the art dental implant solutions to the citizens of Oklahoma City, Edmond, and surrounding areas.

Care Credit is a unique financial institution committed to providing finance options so that you can get the care you deserve. We have partnered with Care Credit and several other financial institutions to allow you to get your bite back and smile with confidence again. You can visit CareCredit to understand how it works and how to apply.