Bone grafting for dental implants in Melbourne

In some cases where a patient has had dentures for a few years, there will likely be significant bone loss in the jaw, which makes it difficult or near impossible to place an implant. However, all is not lost – with a clinically proven procedure called bone grafting we are able to replace some of the bone you have lost in order to secure a set of dental implants in Melbourne into place so that the rest of the bone is encouraged to grow back. With this extra step in getting tooth implants, it helps the chances that the implant surgery will be a success so it is a good start down the path of getting a new and permanent set of teeth.

The bone grafting procedure

The best choice for a bone graft is to use your own tissue. This way your body will not be at risk of rejecting any foreign tissue that gets implanted. However, in some cases we may use a synthetic option if harvesting surgery is not a viable choice. In the case where we can harvest your own tissue, a small piece of bone will be removed from your hip or chin in a surgical procedure that takes place in hospital. A dentist will then take this piece of bone or synthetic material and expertly place it where it needs to be in the jaw. Once the surgery is complete a waiting period of a few months is required to allow the new piece of tissue to mesh with the existing jawbone as this will give it enough strength and size to handle having dental implants in Melbourne inserted.

Implant surgery

Once your new bone has healed we will be able to place the number of implants needed to secure new teeth into your mouth. If you need a full set of new teeth we can do this with just 4 implants in a treatment known as multiple implants. The surgery requires that we drill a space into your bone where a titanium screw can be implanted – this screw is the actual dental implant that new dentures or bridges will be attached to. However, there is yet another waiting period in which your body must be given a chance to heal. This healing process involves the bone fusing to the titanium which is a strong metal alloy that seldom gets rejected by the body.

Permanent teeth

Once the implants are in, you will be given a temporary bridge (that looks just like your normal teeth) to use while you wait for the healing to be complete. Then at that point, a new and permanent set of teeth will be secured to the implants which are now strong and stable enough to support them.

Benefits

By placing dental implants in Melbourne into a jaw that has needed a bone graft you are helping the future stability of that bone because it will fuse to the titanium for all time allowing it to remain strong throughout your life.

Disclaimer: All treatments carry risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion to ensure that this treatment is right for you.