Information for children and young people
This information is about having an alveolar bone graft operation. It will tell you what an alveolar bone graft operation is and how the orthodontist will help to get your mouth ready for the operation.
What is an alveolar bone graft?
Alveolar is another word for gum. The red part on the outside of the gum is called the
mucosa (this is what you can see if you look in the mirror.
The mucosa has bone inside it. Some people, like you, are born with a gap in their gum. This means that they do not have bone in that bit of the gum.
An alveolar bone graft is the name for the operation to put a bit of bone into the gap in your gum. During an alveolar bone graft operation a surgeon, will take a small bit of bone from your hip and will put this in the gap in your gum.
The operation takes place at the hospital. You will not be awake during the operation. Another doctor called an anaesthetist will give you some medicine to make you go to sleep. Sometimes people call Alveolar Bone Grafts operations an “ABG”:
- Alveolar – another word for gum
- Bone – what will go into your gum
- Graft – the medical word for when something is taken from one bit of the body and put into another.
In an Alveolar Bone Graft a piece of bone from your hip will be put into your gum.
Why do I need an alveolar bone graft?
The gum has some important jobs to do. One of the gum’s jobs is to hold your teeth in the right place. When someone is born with a gap in their gum it means that the gum cannot hold their teeth in place properly.
Getting your mouth ready for an alveolar bone graft
When they are old enough, people with a gap in their gum can have an alveolar bone graft operation to put a little bit of bone in the gap. Having an alveolar bone graft operation means when your grown up teeth come through they will not be wobbly or have a gap in them.
When will I have an alveolar bone graft?
Before the alveolar bone graft you will need to see the orthodontist. An orthodontist is a kind of dentist who moves teeth around using braces. Braces change the shape and size of the gap in your gums.
You will have an x-ray; an x-ray is a photograph of your teeth, bone and gum. It is taken of your mouth to see how big the gap in your gum is. Sometimes the orthodontist will need to fit a brace to help make the gap in your gum wide enough for the surgeon to put the bone from your hip into the gap. When the gap is wide enough you will be
ready for your alveolar bone graft operation.
What will the brace be like?
The brace will go on your top teeth. Usually the brace goes on the back of your teeth and is glued in to hold it in place. Sometimes people need a tram track brace as well. Tram track braces go in front of your teeth. The orthodontist will talk to you about which brace you need.
How long will I need the brace for?
Most people have their braces on for about a year before the gap in their gum is wide enough, but sometimes people may need their braces on for a bit longer before they are ready to have their alveolar bone graft operation. You will see their orthodontist every month or so.
You will have some x-rays to check how big the gap in your gum is, and to check how your teeth are growing. Looking at the x-rays will help the orthodontist decide when your mouth is ready for the operation.
How do I take care of my brace?
It is important that you keep your teeth and gums really clean. To do this you need to brush your teeth, gums and brace every morning and every night. Also, try very hard to brush them after every meal.
If there is a problem with your brace tell your parents and carers and they can contact the orthodontist.
Question and worries:
Get a piece of paper to write down any questions or worries that you have about having an alveolar bone graft operation. Talk to your parents and carers about these questions and worries.
What will happen when the gap in my gum is big enough?
Going to a clinic appointment
When the gap is big enough your orthodontist will arrange for you to come to a clinic
appointment to talk to the surgeon.
In the clinic appointment the surgeon will have a look in your mouth. They will talk to you and your parents and carers about the operation and they will ask you if you have any questions you want to ask about the operation.
If the surgeon is happy with how your gum looks then they will arrange a date for your alveolar bone graft operation.
Having a new brace
Once everyone has agreed that you are ready for your alveolar bone graft operation the
orthodontist will fit your teeth with a new, smaller brace.
This new brace will help to hold your teeth and gums still for when the piece of bone from your hip is put into your gum during the operation, and help it settle in its new place for six months.
It is important that you carry on looking after your teeth and keeping them really clean by
brushing them twice daily.
What should I do if I have any questions or worries?
It is normal to feel a bit worried about having an operation – but there are lots of people who
can help. If you have any worries then talk to your parents and carers.
Sometimes people have lots of questions about having an operation or about having braces.
There is a page in this leaflet where you can write down any questions or worries that you
have. You can talk to your parents and carers about these.
Contact details
The Cleft Psychology team is also available to help support you and your family. The team can help you feel ready to have the alveolar bone graft operation and can help you with any worries that you might have.
Your parents and carers can contact the cleft team on 0191 282 0195
(Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm) if they want to discuss any questions or worries. PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) for help, advice and information about NHS services.
You can contact them on freephone 0800 032 02 02,
email northoftynepals@nhct.nhs.uk or text to 0167 051 1098
