Reconstructive Surgery
Oral Bone Grafting
An area of particular interest to the Oral and maxillofacial surgery team is reconstructive surgery.
Bone grafting is performed for two primary reasons:
- Repair or correction of an oral defect
- Preparation for dental implant placement
NewYork-Presbytierian surgeons use techniques to rebuild the jaw of patients undergoing cancer resection surgery or to close the fistula of a child with a cleft lip and palate have all been modified to allow the use of principles of bone grafting on the level of the implant patient.
Typically bone grafts are used in patients that requires bone to build the jaw enough to support dental implants. These grafts can be taken from areas of the lower jaw. If more bone is necessary, it may be taken from the tibia and the lower leg. This work is done in an office setting.
If a larger area of the jaw needs to be built up, the surgeon may go into the marrow spaces of the hip bone. The hip bones are an excellent site not only for marrow but also for the cortical bone that acts as a scaffold to shape these grafts. This work is done in a hospital setting.
If the jaw needs to be grafted to allow for implant placement, the grafted bone will need to mature before placing these fixtures into it. Depending upon the bone source and site, healing can take four to eight months to mature.
Patients who are candidates for implants and bone grafting can expect to have several surgical interventions during reconstruction. This is a time-consuming effort that will yield a spectacular return to function. A patient that has this type of work is usually in treatment for at least 12 to 18 months. For those patients who are impatient, then dentures may be a more expedient solution.
Surgical Correction of Maxillofacial Skeletal Deformities
Surgical correction of maxillofacial skeletal deformities includes reconstructive procedures that correct deformities of the jaws, facial skeleton, and associated soft tissues. These abnormalities may be caused by genetic, environmental, developmental, functional, and/or pathologic aberrations apparent at birth or manifested in subsequent growth and development or acquired through trauma, neoplastic processes, and degenerative diseases.
Musculoskeletal deformities of the facial bones can occur in all three planes of space (anteroposterior, vertical, and transverse) or any combination of the three. The surgical procedures involve repositioning and recontouring the facial bones to correct functional and/or pathologic problems. The principal goal of surgical correction of these skeletal deformities is restoration and/or improvement in function and prevention of potential sequelae.
Why Choose NewYork-Presbyterian for Reconstructive Surgery
At NewYork-Presbyterian, we offer exceptional dentistry and oral medical care. As our patient, you benefit from our dentists’ years of training and experience. We also provide dental clearance for cardiac procedures, head and neck radiation, and stem cell transplants.
As a scientifically based hospital in partnership with two academic institutions, we are at the forefront of the latest treatments. Our dedication to improving dentistry and oral surgery extends to innovative research programs. We continue developing new techniques and therapies to enhance our patients’ quality of life.