What Is Bone Grafting?

Bone Grafting is the procedure of adding bone to an area of the mouth where it is missing. It can be used in any area of the mouth where it is needed.  When adding bone to a patient’s mouth, the dentist will use one of three types of bone: autogenous, allograft, or alloplasts.  Autogenous bone is bone that belongs to the patient receiving it.  Allograft bone refers to donor bone and alloplasts are synthetic bone substitutes. The dentist may use a combination of the above as well.

In conjunction with the bone, the dentist may add PRP, a healing agent that comes from your blood and is accessed through the IV.  The area will be closed off with either artificial collagen or donor membrane.

Why Is Bone Grafting Performed?

Bone grafting is performed for two reasons: to create enough bone for dental implants or to fill out bone deterioration under the gums.  Bone creation is often needed when a patient has been without teeth for a while or for another reason has lost bone in the area where the implant will be placed. The dental implant will need the bone in order to hold it in place.  If the bone grafting is to fill out the bone alone, the reason is generally cosmetic or for gum contour reasons.

Time Frame of Bone Grafting

Many times the dental implant can be placed at the same time the bone grafting surgery is performed. However, this will often depend on the facility that your dental implants and bone grafting are being conducted in and the size of the area that has to be grafted.

When bone grafting is done before the dental implant is placed, healing time for the bone to heal prior to having the implant placed can be from 4 to 6 months.

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The Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center is located in Plano, TX, a short drive from Dallas.  He practices cosmetic dentistry with a focus in dental implants.

Dental implants

What Are Mini Dental Implants?

Mini implants are a smaller version of a full-sized dental implant. They are toothpick thin posts that are made from titanium. Most frequently mini implants are used to stabilize the lower denture helping to eliminate the discomfort of a moving denture. Mini implants come with many advantages; however, they also carry with them limitations, as is outlined below.

Advantages of Mini Implants

• The surgery is minimally invasive.
• The entire process takes only a few hours. The patient can walk in to the office in the morning and out the same day with a full set of teeth.
• The quick recovery of a mini implant patient can allow the patient to eat the same day.
• It is a solution for patients that have significant bone loss that restrict them from being candidate for full dental implants.
• It is a solution for patients that cannot have surgery for medical reasons.
• Mini implants requires no sutures or long recovery periods.

Limitations on Mini Implants

• Mini implants are not an ideal, long-term solution based on the thinness of the implant.
• Non-removable dentures are not an option with mini implants.
• Mini implants do not offer the same degree of stability that a normal dental implant does.
• Some of the same drawbacks of traditional dentures apply when mini implants are used: somewhat uncomfortable, clicking, and esthetic drawbacks such as bad breath.
• They can only be used on the lower arch. The upper arch does not integrate with the implants.
• Metal fatigue is a risk with mini implants due to their size, so they can malfunction.

The best long-term option is a full dental implant, however, the cost is higher. Mini implants are a good alternative, but they cannot be seen as a replacement to natural teeth to the same degree that a dental implant is considered.

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Photo Credit: Braun Dental

The cost of dental implants is contingent on several factors: the state of the bone, the size of the area, extraction of teeth, and the type of implant. Based on the patient’s mouth and individual case a bone graft and or teeth extractions may or may not be necessary in order to have successful implants.

Cost of a Single Tooth Dental Implant

A single tooth implant could be the result of a variety of instances including: decay, a failed root canal, a fractured tooth, a fall, an accident, or periodontal disease. If the bone is healthy under the area of the missing tooth, then the single tooth dental implant typically ranges between 3,500-$4,950 to replace.

Approximations of Costs:

Dental Implant beneath the gum – $2000-$2300
Abutment that screws to the implant - $450-$650
Porcelain Crown -  $1500-$2000

Multi-Teeth Dental Implants Cost

The cost of dental implants when multiple teeth have been knocked out or removed will depend on the size of the area of the missing teeth. Dental implants require certain measurements in order for there to be appropriate room for the implants.

If the teeth are located toward the back of the mouth the implant dentist may be able to put in two dental implants rather than three and save the patient money. However, that can only be determined during a consultation.

The cost for a single tooth replacement typically ranges between $3,500-$4,950 and will be less when replacing multiple teeth.

All-Teeth Dental Implant Cost

Cost of Removable Dentures

Removable dentures are the traditional form of denture where the denture must be taken out every time you eat. Removable dentures include: a few positioned dental implants below the gum, a piece to go on top of the implant and a bar to position on top of the gum for the denture to snap into.

Generally, a removable denture costs between $5,500-$16,500.

Cost of Non-Removable Dentures

Non-Removable dentures can be treated as natural teeth as they do not need to be taken out when one eats. The cost for non-removable dentures is $20,000- $27,000 for the implant, buttons and screws to hold the fixed dentures in place.

Additional Costs Associated with Some Implants

Additional costs will be associated with dental implants depending on the state of the teeth and the bone when performing the procedure.

Extraction

If the mouth is full of teeth that need to be replaced, than there will be an extraction cost on top of the cost for the dental implant(s).

Extractions range from $200-$400 per tooth.

Bone Grafting

If all teeth are missing and have been for some time, bone grafts are often needed.

A bone graft can average anywhere from $300-$1,600 depending on the extent of grafting needed.

Sinus Grafting

When the root of the tooth has reached the sinus cavity a sinus graft or lift may be required at an additional cost to the dental implant. The reason for this is to ensure that the sinus cavity is protected when the implant is placed. The implant dentist will determine if there is a need for a dental implant at the time of the consultation.

Sinus grafting and lifts range from $1,500-$3,000.

Dental implants are many times the perfect oral health solution, improving both cosmetic appeal and overall quality of life.

The bottom line is that many factors have changed since Jerry Jones initiated this project. Jerry Jones is not alone as every business in the world faces challenges caused by recent events in the energy and financial markets. Though the price tag for the new stadium has spiraled from $650 million dollars to well over $1 billion dollars, Jones cannot be blamed for not doing his job. Jerry Jones has brought the right football and coaching talent to the Dallas Cowboys in preparation for the 2009 season. Furthermore, he has solicited the right events to take place in the near future in a stadium that is capable of holding over 100,000 spectators. Still, uncontrollable factors such as rising materials cost and an all but evaporated appetite for corporate sponsorship has left Jerry Jones in a pickle. Jerry Jones now finds himself in the same predicament that many businesses are in due to a tough economic environment. To summarize, Jerry Jones is short of the cash needed to finish this project.

Regardless of the automotive makers debauchery on Capital Hill and the collapse of banks across the nation, I argue that this country cannot allow the The Dallas Cowboys to become the next institutional victim of the credit crisis. If this stadium deal were to take the Dallas Cowboys down with it, the negative impact would ripple across industries throughout the United States including: private jet manufacturing, criminal defense attorneys, small body art parlors in every state, and the entire gentlemen’s club & cabaret industry.

As a nation, we have no choice but to include the Dallas Cowboys’ short term financial crunch into the $700 billion dollar bail out package. Bailing out the Dallas Cowboys has a much higher return potential than injecting money into automakers and buying underwater mortgage-backed securities. The notion only creates one unanswered question: If the United States government bails out Jerry Jones, what will we be the name of the new stadium?

Option #1 – Yes We Can Field

Barack Obama all but neglected the State of Texas during the 2008 election as the state has a long history of supporting republican candidates. Even with a successful first term, Obama would struggle to secure votes in the State of Texas unless he made huge campaign investments that would come at an opportunity cost of other swing states. If his administration bails out Jerry Jones, however, he would get a free advertising opportunity for at least four years.

Below is an artist’s rendering of what Yes We Can Field might look like. You can bet this picture didn’t make Mr. Jone’s photoblog.  Click on the image to view full screen.

Option #2 – Fannie Mae Field

Barack Obama is not the type of president to take advantage. Thus, option number 1 is likely not a possibility. However, to improve his administration’s investment potential in another bailed out company, he could choose to handpick a corporate sponsor. Fannie Mae could be that sponsor.

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Option #3 – Jerry Jones Field

Move over Frank Sinatra.

The new stadium is Jerry’s baby. Some consider it his legacy to The City of Dallas and The Dallas Cowboys. Maybe if Jerry Jones made Sinatra-like promises to Obama’s 2012 campaign to ensure the automotive workers union in the State of Texas (UA 276) voted for Obama in 2012, the President just might make Jerry’s real dream come true.

While Cowboys legends defined by ego like Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens might see this as a great idea and cause for celebration, other Cowboys blue bloods like Troy Aikman and Tom Landry could take exception. Jerry, of course, would be partying and dancing like it’s 1993.

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What do you think?

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