Bone Grafting - restore bone levels

Bone grafting is sometimes needed as part of dental implant treatment to rebuild the height, width or volume of the jaw bone in the area of the tooth to be replaced. Bone shrinks once a tooth is removed as part of the natural healing process. Bone can also be destroyed by infection around failing teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bone grafting?

A bone graft is a minor surgical procedure used to rebuild bone where it has been lost. A bone graft may be placed straight into an extraction socket when a tooth is removed or it may be placed in an area where a tooth has been missing for some time. After placement of the graft and over the course of several months, your body will begin to lay down new bone cells, replacing the graft material and restoring the area with healthy bone.

Why do i need a bone grafting procedure?

A bone graft is sometimes needed to restore the volume of bone available in the area of a lost tooth. This is often the case in preparation for dental implant placement. To be successful a dental implant must fuse with the surrounding bone, if there is insufficient bone available then the chances of success are reduced. It is normal for bone to deteriorate after the loss of a tooth or as a result of chronic infection, this is often the reason a bone graft is necessary as a tooth may have been missing for some time before you decide to replace it with an implant, this is why many dentists will now recommend a procedure called 'socket preservation' at the time of extraction in order to preserve as much bone as possible by placing a graft at this time.

Where does bone grafting material come from?

Bone graft material can come from a variety of sources including your own body, laboratory processed human or animal products or synthetic materials. Most often we use a mixture of synthetic material and bovine or porcine products. We may also use custom made bone blocks produced using a digital planning and milling process. The type of bone graft material that is relevant to your case will be discussed with you and you will have the option to decide your preference based on our recommendations.

Is it safe?

Bone grafting is a very safe procedure. The materials used, regardless of their source, are subject to rigorous testing and safety controls to ensure they are safe and appropriate for use. Bone substitute materials do not remain in the body, they are naturally absorbed and replaced with your own bone over time. The procedure itself is very safe and predictable, it is performed under aseptic conditions and can usually be performed under a simple local anaesthetic.

Does it hurt?

Bone grafting is a very straightforward, minor surgical procedure. You can expect it to be a similar experience to a dental extraction (having a tooth removed). The procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthetic however for those patients that are particularly anxious we can provide IV sedation to help put you more at ease.

How long does it take to heal?

You will feel back to your normal self after a bone graft within a couple of days however the healing process inside the bone will continue for several months. Immediately after the procedure you can expect to have some minor discomfort, this can usually be managed with over the counter analgesics, this will resolve within a couple of days.