Before seeking an alternative to bone grafting, it is best to understand what it is, and why is it needed. Bone grafting is a dental procedure that is performed by surgeons to replace missing bones and repair bone fractures. It is a very complex process. That is the main reason why patients are looking for alternatives.
Is There An Alternative to Bone Grafting?
If the patient is going to have a single dental implant, bone grafting may seem like the only solution to the bone loss. However, for those who are going through a more complex treatment such as having full arch or full mouth dental implants, there may be an alternative to bone grafting.
The main reason to have grafting is to secure the implant of a single tooth because the single prosthetic tooth is solely supported by the implant. If there is not enough bone fracture in these individual areas, bone grafting is reasonably performed. For those cases, there is no need to check for an alternative to bone grafting.
On the other hand, there is a way to fasten a full arch prosthesis to the jaw in order to provide adequate reinforcement which is an alternative to bone grafting. It can be performed on cases that are as little as 4 to 6 implants. It is possible to place a full arch of prosthetic teeth if the patient has enough bone for 4 to 6 locations in his jaw. This procedure is also called all-on-4 dental implants.
In some advanced cases of bone loss, the patient may not have enough bone remaining so surgeons cannot place implants in the jawbone. When this is the case, a bone grafting procedure is considered risky because of not having adequate surrounding bone. At this point, some dental specialists might suggest that the patient is not a good candidate for dental implants.
Yet, it is possible to say there is an alternative to bone grafting especially for these cases: Zygomatic Implants.
What Are Zygomatic Implants?
Zygoma implants can be the best alternative to bone grafting if the patient suffers from significant bone loss. These implants are longer due to enabling to embedding of implants in the zygoma – which is the cheekbone instead of the jawbone.
They are the best prosthetic alternative to bone grafting for patients who do not have adequate bone fractures for regular implants. Because the zygoma is thick enough to be a foundation for the implant.
The difference between traditional dental implants and zygomatic implants can be listed below.
| Traditional Implants | Zygomatic implants |
| Traditional implants are embedded in the jaw bones. | Zygomatic implants are placed in the cheekbones. |
| Traditional implants are shorter in size. | Zygomatic implants are 3 to 5 times longer. |
| Traditional implants can replace teeth on both jaws. | Zygomatic implants can replace teeth only on the upper jaw. |
| The candidates of traditional implants have adequate jawbone density. | The candidates for zygomatic implants don’t have adequate jawbone density. |
Where to Get The Best Alternative to Bone Graft For Dental Implants?
As mentioned above, there may be an alternative to bone grafting if the patient suffers from bone loss. The alternatives can be listed as:
- all-on-4 dental implants
- Zygomatic Implants
Both of the procedures must be performed by dental specialists in adequately equipped dental clinics. Since they require special education, skill, and experience. Before a patient decides on getting any of these dental procedures, he needs to be sure that the dental clinic meets all his needs. The key qualifications the patient should check before having procedures as an alternative to bone grafting are:
- dental surgeons, their expertise, skills, and background
- technology and facilities
- patient-centered approach and follow-up care
- ethical practices
- reputation and reviews
Frequently Asked Questions About Alternative to Bone Grafting
Patients may have many questions while they are looking for an alternative to bone grafting. Some of them can be answered as below.
Is There An Alternative To Bone Grafting?
Yes, there are all-on-4 dental implants and Zygomatic Implants which can be considered as an alternative to bone grafting.
Can I Get An Implant Without A Bone Graft?
If the patient has missing bone on the upper jaw, there is an alternative to bone grafting which is called zygomatic implants. However, they are only applicable to upper jaws since the implants are embedded in cheekbones.
What Is Bone Graft Replacement?
Bone grafting is a dental surgery that uses transplanted bone to fix damaged bones and support them rebuild. This procedure is suitable for almost any bone in the body. The surgeons might be required to take bone from the patient’s ribs, hips, or legs to perform the graft. However, in some cases alternative to bone grafting is possible to find.
