Bone Grafting

If a tooth is lost, whatever the reason, the bone in the surrounding area starts to degenerate. This is a natural process of the body and the only way to prevent it is to replace the lost tooth.

If a patient wants a dental implant but has insufficient bone tissue for the metal component to be fitted, we may recommend a bone graft.

Are bone grafts an essential part of having dental implants?

Bone grafting isn’t always required when a patient needs a dental implant. We carry out a full examination to determine if the bone loss is severe enough to require a graft or if it can be avoided with the use of short implants.

We talk through the options with the patient and discuss our findings and recommendations for treatment with you. If bone grafting is a necessary step, it can make further treatment more successful.

The different types of bone grafting are as follows:

Guided bone augmentation- this is the most common type of bone graft and is really natural looking. We add material, either synthetic material or animal-derived bone substitutes, around the implant so the final crown blends in with the rest of the teeth.

Sinus grafting  – If a tooth is lost from the back of the top jaw; the sinuses can drop down into the empty space. We use a dental implant to push the sinus floor back into the correct position. This is known as a sinus lift.

Block grafts  – This is a more radical process; if a lot of bone has been lost from the front of the upper jaw we will relocate bone from the patient to restore it. We will often look for alternative solutions before resorting to this.

When necessary, bone grafting is a very useful procedure. We usually use a CT scanner to assess the bone levels and make a full assessment of the best course of treatment. We explain the process fully to your patient so they are completely aware of what the treatment entails and why we have recommended it.