Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are highly trained, skilled and uniquely qualified to reconstruct the jaws. Dr. Misch has personally developed several bone grafting procedures and is considered an authority in the field of reconstructive surgery for dental implants. Our office is experienced in treating the most complex and challenging cases and we receive referrals rom all over the United States. The sinus is a hollow cavity in the back of the upper jaw and often prevents the ability to place dental implants. The sinus bone graft is a procedure involving lifting the sinus membrane and placing a bone graft onto the sinus floor. Dr. Misch was a member of the Sinus Bone Graft Consensus Conference of 1997 and has published articles on the procedures as well as a chapter in the textbook The Sinus Bone Graft. When the ridge of the jawbone has been resorbed a bone graft may be needed to increase the jaw height and/or width. In many cases artificial bone substitutes or bank bone is not adequate to grow the needed amount of bone for proper dental implant placement. The bone graft is often taken from an accessible area of the patient and transplanted to the jawbone. In the mouth bone may be taken from the chin or back of the lower jaw in the region of the third molar. n more advanced cases a greater amount of bone is needed and may be harvested from the hip or outer aspect of the lower leg at the knee. Dr. Misch routinely performs these procedures in the hospital and his office. Intravenous sedation or general anesthesia is used for patient comfort. The bone graft heals and fuses to the jawbone allowing the proper placement of dental implants. Patients are able to wear temporary teeth during the healing period. Many of Dr. Misch's patients have volunteered to discuss these procedures with other patients and give their perspective on the treatment. Facial Trauma Often when teeth are lost from trauma such as car accidents or falls there is additional loss of supporting bone and gum tissue. Bone grafts are often required to reconstruct the jawbones and restore facial contour. Dental implants may then be used to replace the missing teeth.
Over a period of time, the jaw bone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and/or inadequate quantity of bone for the placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for implant tooth replacement. Fortunately, we now have the ability to predictably grow bone where needed.
