Expanding treatment options for patients
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 8th November 2024
Dental implant treatment is becoming an ever more popular treatment option for edentulism amongst both clinicians and patients. It supports long-term oral health, along with unmatched functional and aesthetic benefits. However, some cases are less straightforward that others, requiring more preparation at the surgical site to ensure a successful treatment outcome. For example, if a patient has been missing their tooth for some time, and their jaw bone may have become thinner, and lost density. In scenarios like this, the remaining bone may be inadequate for supporting a dental implant, and as such hard tissue augmentation may be required to ensure sufficient bone quality.
What is a bone graft and why might it be needed?
A bone graft increases the volume and density of the jaw bone, using natural or lab-made bone grafting material to areas where bone is lost or thin. Bone grafting enables the body to repair itself, providing structure for the bone to grow and regenerate. There are a number of different types of material that might be used for bone grafting, these include: allograft (human bone), alloplast (lab-made substitute like hydroxyapatite, for example), autogenous (the patient’s own bone from a donor site), and xenograft (animal bone, commonly bovine or porcine).
Bone augmentation is a common procedure. As mentioned, it is often carried out to provide a strong foundation for dental implants. However, this is not its only application. Bone grafting can fill an empty socket post extraction, repair damaged bone after trauma, and stabilise and support loose teeth, amongst many other things.
Procedure and its risks and benefits
Whilst the procedure and the techniques used to provide bone augmentation will depend on a number of factors, including the type of material used, the surgical site, and the patient’s unique clinical situation, there are a few main steps involved in the treatment: lifting a flap, applying bone grafting material to the site, covering the area with membrane, and carrying out a tension-free flap closure.
Usually, bone augmentation is successful, increasing patients’ suitability for dental implant treatment. However, there is a risk of complications and treatment failure, particularly for patients who smoke or have existing medical conditions.
Treating complex cases
As with many things in life, confidence to treat more complex cases comes with experience. As such, if you are a professional who places dental implants, but feels ill-equipped to tackle the more complex cases which might require bone or soft tissue grafting, you may feel held back. Some may assume that patients with minimal bone are not suitable candidates for dental implant treatment, or frequently refer cases to those with more experience.
As such, it’s important to seek out education and mentoring opportunities to expand your skillset, and ensure you are able to provide patients with more complex scenarios with the best outcomes.
High-quality education
In the UK, educational courses of the calibre required to provide excellent care are limited, with many of our top professionals seeking education in Europe or further afield. However, the ASHA Club delivers high-quality courses to dental professionals who wish to improve their skills and knowledge, and receive ongoing mentoring from leaders in the field.
Dr Selvaraj Balaji presents the Advanced Horizontal & Vertical Augmentation course, which teaches delegates how to improve their skills in horizontal and vertical bone augmentation and soft tissue surgical work. The course comprises of theoretical and hands-on exercises, and gives attendees an understanding of how to manage various defects and the types of biomaterials and techniques to use in different situations.
In order to offer patients the best treatment options for them, clinicians must obtain the best standards of education available, enabling them to treat more complex cases. With dental implant treatment continuing to be the gold standard treatment type for patients with missing teeth, assessing patients’ eligibility and preparing the site for implant placement is essential for the best success rates.
To book, please call: 07974 304269 or email: info@ashaclub.co.uk
