Bone Grafting for Implants

Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth roots. They also help maintain the density of bones in the area of the jaw they are implanted in. However, to begin with, the implant needs to fuse with the jawbone they are inserted in and provide a strong base.

Unfortunately, if this area has lost bone density due to a long period of no teeth in the area, the implant may not have a stable foundation. In such situations, a bone graft can be done to replace the missing bone, and later an implant can be fixed in it.

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Learn More About Bone Grafting for Implants

If the walls of the socket from where the tooth is missing are thin, it will not be able to support a dental implant. In such situations, a bone graft is placed, preferably at the time of tooth extraction, to fill the empty socket. This bone fuses naturally with the surrounding tissues and builds enough volume to support the implant. The healing takes a minimum of three months.

When the patient is missing more than a few teeth, and the jawbone is thin, a block bone graft could be an option. The healing takes about four months, after which an implant can be considered.

The bone used for the graft can either be from your own body, a donor or made of synthetic bone materials.

Depending on the number of missing teeth and your replacement plan, a sinus lift or augmentation may also be needed. This adds several more months of healing time to your implant schedule.

A sinus lift is required when the sinus cavities in the upper jaw are very large or very low and extend to the tooth-bearing areas. The goal of the procedure is to raise the sinus floor and fill the underlying space with bone grafting material. The new bone fuses and builds up the bone in the floor of the maxillary sinus that is above the bony ridge of the gum line anchoring teeth in the upper jaw. After several months of healing, the upper jaw is ready to be inserted with dental implants. It stabilizes in the newly formed sinus bone and can then be fitted with dentures or a crown. This procedure is often combined with the implant placement procedure.

A sinus augmentation is generally performed at Dr. Sonneveld‘s office under local anesthesia. Some patients may request oral or intravenous sedative medication as well.

Give us a call today at 817-927-1818 or fill out the form below to schedule an appointment. You’ll be happy you chose Facial & Cosmetic Surgery Fort Worth.

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