Gentle dentistry delivered with precision.
As an advanced implant dentist and dental implant surgeon, one of my roles is to carry out bone grafts and sinus lifts on patients who need them before implant rehabilitation.
What is bone grafting?
Numerous actions occur in the mouth as soon as a tooth or teeth are lost. One of these is bone loss. Dental bone grafting is carried out to replace lost (atrophied) bone before implant placement. Doing so aids implant stability and ensures a greater chance of implant survival.
The science behind bone loss
When a tooth is missing, the stimulating forces on the bone tissue at the missing tooth site are greatly reduced. As a result, cells within the tissue get reabsorbed back into the body. As they do, this causes the jawbone to shrink – less dense bone means problematic implant anchorage.
Additionally, when tooth loss occurs in the upper arch, a shrinking jawbone can also mean less bone between the upper jaw and the maxillary sinus.
Essentially, I’m replacing the lost bone with new bone or freeing up space in the upper arch using bone augmentation and sinus lifting techniques.
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How do bone grafts help?
Dental bone grafting increases both the width and height of the bone at the site where the implant is being placed. Doing so allows for better implant anchorage and greater stability once the bone tissue fuses with the implant.
I perform this treatment using bone grafting material and attach it to the area currently deficient in bone. Bone grafting material contains collagen and proteins like natural tissue to encourage speedy growth.
Are bone grafts always necessary?
Unfortunately, bone loss starts to occur very quickly after tooth loss. In fact, it’s estimated that the jaw bone loses around 50% of its capacity within the first six months. Inevitably, for those seeking an implant-for-tooth replacement, bone grafting is often necessary. However, it does mean that after having this standard procedure, dental implant treatment can be carried out.
In edentulous cases where entire rows of teeth are missing, it is possible to fit implants without the need for bone grafting using a combination of zygomatic implants and full-arch rehabilitation. However, if a tooth has been missing for 2 to 3 months or more, you will require a bone graft.
Sinus lifting
The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult places to place an implant because of the proximity to the maxillary sinus. When we also factor in bone loss caused by a missing tooth, it’s easy to see how problematic an implant placement can be. Sinus lifting, or sinus augmentation, overcomes this problem by raising the sinus floor and building up sufficient bone so that the implant can be anchored into it without piercing the sinus cavity.
Similar to dental bone grafting, sinus augmentation is a common and safe procedure that greatly enhances the prospect of successful implant treatment. Modern techniques mean that any discomfort during or after the procedure is minimal.
How I evaluate bone mass
Every implant patient will undergo an initial CT scan. ‘CT’ stands for computerised tomography and is advanced X-ray imaging that captures how the jaw looks in 3D. Essentially, this enables me to see a 360-degree anatomical structure of the jaw, including whether you have sufficient depth and width of bone. From this, I will be able to evaluate your suitability for dental implant treatment and whether you require additional bone augmentation or sinus lifting before implant placement.
Precision dentistry – Putting patients first
When I perform dental bone grafting or sinus lifting procedures, I plan with precision so that every procedure is carried out with minimal fuss, putting you first and foremost. If you would like to know more about any of these procedures or whether you’re a possible candidate for dental implants, contact me.
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FAQs
Does bone grafting hurt?
Minor ‘particulate’ bone grafting is a relatively straightforward process; most of the time, this is carried out under local anaesthetic. Essentially, it should feel no worse than undergoing a filling.
In other cases, you may require a block graft to build up larger areas of bone. In these situations, deeper sedation or anaesthesia may be necessary and can require a little more recovery time.
How long does recovery from bone grafting or sinus lifting take?
Most patients can return to normal activities within 7 to 10 days. However, it can take 3 to 4 months for the new bone to fuse with the old bone, meaning this will be built into your overall implant treatment plan.
Are there any risks from bone grafting or sinus lifting?
As an implant surgeon, I do everything I can to minimise risk to patients. However, as with any surgery, infection, bleeding, and complications from anaesthesia are possible, although extremely rare.
What can I eat after bone graft surgery?
Just like dental implant treatment, patients should avoid hard or crunchy foods for the first week after bone grafting and switch to a softer food diet. However, after the surgical site has healed, you may start to introduce other nutritious foods to aid recovery.
