Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.

With bone grafting, we now have the opportunity to not only replace bone where it is missing, but also the ability to promote new bone growth in that location! This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance.

Autogenous bone grafts, also known as autografts, are made from your own bone, taken from somewhere else in the body. The bone is typically harvested from the chin, jaw, lower leg bone, hip, or the skull. Autogenous bone grafts are advantageous in that the graft material is live bone, meaning it contains living cellular elements that enhance bone growth.

However, one downside to the autograft is that it requires a second procedure to harvest bone from elsewhere in the body. Depending on your condition, a second procedure may not be in your best interest.

Allogenic bone, or allograft, is dead bone harvested from a cadaver, then processed using a freeze-dry method to extract the water via a vacuum. Unlike autogenous bone, allogenic bone cannot produce new bone on its own. Rather, it serves as a framework or scaffold over which bone from the surrounding bony walls can grow to fill the defect or void.

Xenogenic bone is derived from non-living bone of another species, usually a cow. The bone is processed at very high temperatures to avoid the potential for immune rejection and contamination. Like allogenic grafts, xenogenic grafts serve as a framework for bone from the surrounding area to grow and fill the void.

Both allogenic and xenogenic bone grafting are advantageous in that they do not require a second procedure to harvest your own bone, as with autografts. However, because these options lack autograft's bone-forming properties, bone regeneration may take longer than with autografts, with a less predictable outcome.

This product is processed allograft bone, containing collagen, proteins, and growth factors that are extracted from the allograft bone. It is available in the form of powder, putty, chips, or as a gel that can be injected through a syringe.

Graft composites consist of other bone graft materials and growth factors to achieve the benefits of a variety of substances. Some combinations may include: collagen/ceramic composite, which closely resembles the composition of natural bone, DBM combined with bone marrow cells, which aid in the growth of new bone, or a collagen/ceramic/autograft composite.

Synthetic materials also have the advantage of not requiring a second procedure to harvest bone, reducing risk and pain. Each bone grafting option has its own risks and benefits. Dr. Guffey, Dr. Miller or Dr. Shah will determine which type of bone graft material is right for you.

Dr. Rakesh Rocky Shah was born and raised in Alabama. He opened Madison Oral and Facial Surgery after completing his residency at the prestigious Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.S. in Biology and received his medical degree (MD) at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Dr. Shah completed a one year internship in General Surgery prior to receiving his dental degree (DMD) from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry.

Dr. Shahs commitment to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is reflected both in his investment in cutting edge office technology and through his frequent attendance of continuing education conferences. He is a licensed dentist as well as a licensed physician.

Dr. Shah is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Association, and the American Medical Association. He is active in the community serving on the active medical staff at Huntsville Hospital.

Dr. Guffey is a native of northeast Alabama and a graduate of KDS DARHigh School in Grant, Alabama. He attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he received a degree in Biology. He earned both his dental and medical degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham medical center. He completed training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UAB which included a general surgery internship and advanced anesthesia training. Dr. Guffey is Board Certified.

Dr. Guffey practices the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery including facial trauma, dental surgery such as removal of teeth, placement of implants, and bone grafting, removal of pathologic lesions of the mouth and face such as cysts and tumors, reconstructive surgery, pediatric oral and facial surgery, corrective jaw surgery, and surgery for the correction of sleep apnea.

Dr. Guffey is a member of the American Dental Association, American Medical Association, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He has authored various publications in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery including textbook contributions and scientific papers.

Dr. Miller is a native ofBirmingham,Alabama.He earned both his dental and medical degrees at theUniversityofAlabama at Birmingham Medical Center.He went on the complete an internship in general surgery and residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at UAB.He is Board Certified by the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Miller practices the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery including routine oral surgery, reconstructive face and jaw surgery, maxillofacial trauma, oral and facial pathologic lesions and treatment of pediatric oral and facial deformities.

He is a member of the American Medical Association, American Dental Association and theAmericanAssociation of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.Dr. Miller is also active in teaching.He is currentlya Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Alabama School of Medicine.He is married to Dr. Amy Miller, and they have three children.