The inferior alveolar nerve, which gives feeling to the lower lip and chin, may need to be moved in order to make room for placement of dental implants to the lower jaw. This procedure is limited to the lower jaw and indicated when teeth are missing in the area of the two back molars and / or and 2nd premolar, with the above mentioned secondary condition. Since this procedure is considered a very aggressive approach (There is almost always some post operative numbness of the lower lip and jaw area, which dissipates very slowly, if ever) usually other less aggressive options are considered first, I. E. keeping the implants towards the front of the jaw. 

Typically, we remove an outer section of the cheek side of the jawbone in order to expose the nerve and vessel canal.  Then we isolate the nerve and vessel bundle in that area, and slightly pull it out to the side. At the same time we place the implants well be tracking the neurovascular bundle. Then the neurovascular bundle is released and packed back over the implants. The surgical access is refilled with a suitable bone graft material of choice and the area is closed.

These procedures may be performed separately or together, depending upon the individual’s condition. In the maxillofacial region, bone graft can be taken from inside the mouth, in the area of chin or third extensive situations, a greater quantity of bone can be attained from the hip or the outer aspect of tibia at the knee.

We can also us allograft or xenograft material to implement bone grafting for dental implants. This bone is prepared from cadvers or animals and used to get the patient’s own bone to grow into the repair site. It quite effective and very safe. Synthetic materials can also be used to stimulate bone formation. We also use factors from your own blood like PRP (APC+) to accelerate and promote bone formation in graft areas.

These surgeries are performed in the out office surgical suite under IV sedation / general anesthesia.