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 it's 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. Vergara will determine which type of bone graft material is right for you.
Dr. Sandra Vergara, was born in Cali, Colombia. She attended The Colombian School of Medicine , El Bosque University School of Dentistry, in Bogota, Colombia, where she earned her DDS degree and completed her 4 years of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency in 1996.
Following her surgical training in Colombia, Dr. Vergara went to Southwestern Medical Center, Parkland Hospital in Dallas and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and completed a six months Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with emphasis in Surgical Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Following these programs she returned to Colombia to run a successful private practice in Cali. She also joined Rafael Uribe Uribe Hospital as a Clinical attending and professor during 4 years.
In 2001, Dr. Sandra Vergara, returned to Nashville and joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to completed her second Residency program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery under Drs. Samuel McKenna and Scott Boyd where she earned a Specialty Certification in one of the best accredited programs in the U.S., obtaining excellent credentials and experience.
After completing this program, she moved to the Wichita Falls area and entered into private practice, for over ten years now. Dr. Vergara, is the only female Oral Surgeon in the great Texoma area. She understands how the dental and surgical areas involved in her profession require expertise, organization, discipline and compassion.
In her private practice, Dr. Vergara practices the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with emphasis in dental implant surgery, temporo-mandibular joint, oral pathology, orthognatic surgery, facial trauma, and dento alveolar surgery. Dr. Vergara, has hospital privileges at Kell West Regional Hospital and at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Dr. Vergara, is a dedicated mother of two children, Juan Pablo and Maria Alejandra, and has many interests outside of her specialty. She enjoys swimming, scuba diving, traveling and spending time with her children in their activities.
At Dr. Sandra Vergara 's Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center we want your entirejourney with us to be a superior one. From the moment you walk in the office, we guarantee that you will feel safe, at ease, and confident that you 've chosen the right place and specialist for your care. Our team is dedicated to providing youexpertiseknowledge in a friendly, clean, state-of-the-art facility. Our team handles all insurance with no hassle to you and is fluent in English and Spanish ensuring that nothing is 'lost in translation'. Thank you for allowing us the privilege ofserving you. We appreciateyour loyalty.