...whether you have your sights set on restoring a gap in your smile with a dental implant or are considering
your options for rebuilding the shape and structure of your jawline due to reversible premature weakening of
the bone caused by tooth loss, .
At Dame Street Dental, your assessment and treatment will be in the hands of our highly skilled specialist in
implant surgery and bone augmentation, who has trained under the world’s leading authorities on bone
biology and dental restoration and is dedicated to putting these ground-breaking techniques and skill to the
service of our patients, no matter how complex or challenging their need.
Sufficient bone quality and quantity is essential for a successful dental implant. The density of your jawbone is directly impacted by the loss of a tooth, whether through trauma, disease, or following a tooth extraction. Once a tooth is removed, the bone in that area begins to resorb – that is, it is no longer receiving stimulus from the root of the lost tooth, and so calcium is leached from that area to be utilised elsewhere in the body leading to growth and maintenance of the bone to stop, and the bone to thin and weaken. Advanced periodontal (gum) disease, tooth trauma or injury, certain developmental conditions, long term denture wear, or infection can also contribute to loss of bone density over time.
This low-density foundation may need to be reinforced, strengthened and restored via a Bone Graft procedure, so that it can properly support a Dental Implant. If you have lost multiple teeth, a bone graft is also an effective, rewarding solution to the premature shrinking of the jawline and resultant sunken, aging facial appearance this can lead to. Bone grafting or dental bone augmentation is an innovative treatment option to regenerate your missing bone, helping to rejuvenate your facial structure and vastly improve your chances of implant success.
Initial consultation
If you and your dentist are consulting on a treatment plan including one or more dental implants, your clinician will first of all carry out a comprehensive dental examination to determine whether or not a bone graft will be necessary to restore bone quality and quantity in the area of the space.
Your dentist will use the clinic’s high-tech 3D CT scanner to assess the density of your bone, and the extent of bone that will need to be replaced to ensure a successful implant procedure (as the amount of bone to be grafted is directly proportional to the number of implants needed). If a bone graft is revealed to be necessary in advance of further restoration treatment, your dentist will discuss all of your treatment options in depth during this consultation, including going through with you the decision-making process for each available graft material (synthetic, processed or natural bone).
At this stage your dentist will of course be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will be able to provide you with a full treatment plan including the estimated time until completion of not only your bone graft, but also the implant surgery and final restoration, and a detailed breakdown of all costs involved.
Bone graft procedure
The bone grafting procedure itself is generally very straightforward and painless. This involves carefully lifting the gum at the point where the bone is thin, to place the restorative graft material which will fuse with your remaining bone under the gumline. The timing of this minor surgical procedure will greatly depend on each patient’s individual case.
If your tooth extraction was a planned step of your initial treatment plan with our clinic, rather than the result of accidental loss, it is sometimes possible for patients to have their bone graft carried out on the same day as their dental extraction. However, if your situation is not suitable for these procedures to be carried out back-to-back, a separate procedure appointment will be scheduled for you.
Once your bone graft(s) is in place, except in the case of very limited grafting where your implant procedure can also be carried out during the same appointment, your graft will need to undergo a period of healing and maturation for 3 to 9 months before your implant can be placed. Your dentist will always be able to advise you of the best method and timeframe for proceeding to ensure the success of your implant while going through your treatment plan at your initial consultation.
Bone graft recovery
In most cases a bone graft conducted by an oral surgery specialist is a simple and uncomplicated procedure. Most patients will experience some mild to moderate discomfort, swelling/, and bruising in the days after treatment. However this is a perfectly natural part of the healing process, and your dentist will prescribe you with appropriate medication to promote your recovery, in addition to providing you with thorough guidance on beneficial aftercare of your mouth and teeth to ensure the healing period is entirely manageable.