Allograft or Autograft?
So, your doctor has told you that you require a bone graft, but you’re not sure what that entails.
Bone grafting is a procedure in which bone is transplanted from a “donor” source to a “receiver” site, in this case, your jaw beneath your gum line. Over time, the jawbone can deteriorate, weaken, and thin, making other dental operations risky or impossible. Bone grafting assists in regaining that strength, and performing restorative surgeries would not be possible otherwise. Your oral surgeon can utilize a variety of bone grafts to grow bone, the two most prevalent being:
- Autografts
- Allografts
Autografts
An autograft is a bone or tissue transplant from one part of the patient’s body. Allografts are referred to as the “gold standard” in bone grafting due to their consistency. Its high success rate is because this graft contains living tissue with intact cells. An oral surgeon, for example, may extract bone from the chin area of the jaw and insert it in the mouth where a dental implant will be placed.
Because the body does not have to acclimatize to the new tissue, autograft bone grafts have a better success rate. Because the tissue is taken directly from the body, there is just a brief transition period.
While autograft techniques are usually favored, there is one significant drawback. The downside is that it necessitates a more complicated and time-consuming surgical procedure. Because the surgeon needs bone tissue from another region of the body, the patient must undergo a lengthy process to extract the bone and then re-insert it.
Allografts
On the other hand, an allograft contains bone or tissue that has been transferred from one person to another. They’re usually derived from cadaver or donor bones and obtained from a recognized tissue bank. The allograft is ready to use and can be found in significant quantities.
The essential advantage is that it only requires one procedure compared to an autograft, which requires a primary procedure to harvest. An allograft may reduce the time spent in surgery and shorten recovery time.
If there isn’t enough bone or tissue to graft from other regions of your body, or if you don’t want to go through an extended healing period, your doctor may recommend an allograft.
What Does the Surgery Entail?
Bone grafting is a relatively straightforward surgery. When you arrive, you will be given an anesthetic in both the recipient and donor sites (if you have a donor site). Then a gum incision will be made to expose the bone needing reinforcement. The given bone will be attached to the one already there, regardless of where it came from. Later, a catalyst material will be applied to the area to stimulate bone formation and healing. Finally, your surgeon will seal the space. From here on out, it’s all about healing!
Interested In Learning More About Bone Grafting?
We’ll lead you through the process of getting ready, the procedure itself, and the recovery. Rockwall Oral Surgery can help you feel and look better more quickly, safely, and without the hassle! Give us a call now to find out if you need a bone graft!
