FAQs about bone grafting for a dental implant Melbourne answered

If you are an adult who has missing teeth, chances are you have researched oral implants. Affixed to your jaw, oral implants are the newest addition to restorative dentistry and have helped thousands of people restore their smiles. Also, they are permanent and hardy, allowing you to eat whichever foods you want without having to worry that they will move. Great!

But what if you discover that you don’t have enough jaw bone to support oral implants? Does that rule them out altogether?

When you come to our team, at High Dental Implants Melbourne, to have a dental implant Melbourne fitted we will examine you for suitability.  If you have problems with your jaw bone density or thickness, then we will likely suggest a bone graft to help in the fitting. We have performed many bone grafts for oral implants and this method has a high success rate and doesn’t affect the longevity of the implants.

Are you concerned that you may need bone grafting to have a dental implant Melbourne fitted? Don’t be! Here, our team answers your FAQs about bone grafts, so read on and enjoy!

What is bone grafting?

A bone graft is a medical procedure used to build on or repair bones via the placement and implantation of bone tissue. When it is related to the fitting of a dental implant Melbourne, our team will aim to use bone taken from another part of your body. Alternatively, we may use a synthetic bone, which will have a similar rate of success as your own bone being used in a graft.

We will place the graft over the areas where we plan to fit your implants. Be aware that the use of bone grafting can prolong the time it takes to have an implant successfully fitted.

Who would need bone grafting for implants?

Few people come to have oral implants fitted on the same day that they lose a tooth. So, the longer it has been since you lost a tooth, mixed with your age and general health, the more likely you are to need a bone graft. This is because the bone recedes after the tooth is lost, as it is no longer holding anything in place. Of course, our team will inform you of whether you need a bone graft or not during your initial implant consultation, so don’t worry!

How is a bone graft performed?

Our team will numb the area where the graft is to be placed, so you won’t feel a thing! We then make some incisions into your gumline, peel it back and place the bone graft onto the site. We then attach it to the jaw with small titanium screws that help with the fusing. Once the graft is secured, we close the gum and the fusing can begin.

Aftercare for bone grafts

We will recommend pain relief medication following the procedure (usually paracetamol) and may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. You will need to eat softer foods for a few days to allow the gum to heal and the graft should take between 3 months to a year to fuse entirely.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.