Dental Encyclopedia · Implants
Bone Graft (GBR)
Bone Graft / Guided Bone Regeneration
A bone graft is a procedure that augments the bone with graft material when there is not enough jawbone to support an implant. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is known as a method that uses a barrier membrane to guide bone to regenerate in the intended area.
In plain terms
Put simply, when there is not enough bone where an implant is to be placed, it is a procedure that “fills in the bone” at that site. Just as you add soil when a flowerpot does not have enough, graft material is placed in the deficient area and covered with a membrane so that it can grow well.
Areas where a tooth has been missing for a long time, or where bone has resorbed because of gum disease, may not have enough bone to support an implant. In such cases the deficient part is augmented with graft materials such as autogenous, allogenic, xenogenic and synthetic bone.
Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a method of covering the graft material with a barrier membrane to keep gum tissue from filling the empty space too quickly, securing time for bone to regenerate in the meantime. It can be performed at the same time as implant placement or as a separate stage.
A healing period is needed for the grafted bone to settle, and the degree of regeneration varies from person to person. Smoking and diabetes can affect healing, so checking general health together at the diagnosis stage is recommended.
Related terms
This entry is for general information. Diagnosis and treatment depend on individual conditions.