How does a bone graft help with dental implants? A brief guide from High Dental

When it comes to having oral implants fitted, there is more to the procedure than simply placing a titanium pin in your jaw.

Many things can make you unsuitable for this procedure and one of the most common issues that patients run into is a lack of healthy jawbone. This may be caused by a degenerative disorder like osteoporosis or may even be the result of injury to the area.

However, there are ways that our team can get around this. By using a procedure known as bone grafting, we can increase the chance of success for your implants and help you to get the smile that you deserve.

At High Dental, we have helped many patients restore the strength and appearance of their smile using dental implants in Melbourne and have assisted in this process with bone grafting many times. So, in short, when you come to our practice, you are getting a highly qualified and experienced team for oral implants in Melbourne!

But what is bone grafting and how does it help with dental implants in Melbourne? Our team answers that question and many more below.

What is bone grafting?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure during which our team will remove living bone from one part of your body (or an external source) and place it in another area where there is deteriorated bone. In the case of dental implants in Melbourne, the area where we would place the graft would be under the gum.

This allows the bone to restore and fuse with the surrounding area and rebuild a stronger jaw, for which we would then fit an implant.

Why is bone grafting required?

We offer bone grafting when there is either deteriorated, destroyed or minimal amount of jawbone.

To have endosteal implants fitted, there are strict guidelines about how much bone is needed and so, by applying a graft, we boost the chances of the jaw becoming thicker and strong enough to support the implant and the teeth on top.

Where will the bone come from?

We will usually aim to remove the bone from either your chin or part of your lower back.

If there are any issues with doing this, we could opt for an externally sourced graft, which will usually be synthetic to reduce the chances of rejection.

How is the bone fitted?

We will numb and peel back the gum, and place the grafted bone onto the site of where we will fit the implants at a later date.

Using either surgical pins or a mesh, we will build up the area and then, once the graft is securely in place, we will stitch the gum back together. In the following months, we will check the success of the graft using X-rays.

How long does it take to heal from a bone graft?

The healing time will vary based on your age and general health. However, on average, it should take between 6- 9 months to recover from a bone graft completely in order to be ready for implantation.

DISCLAIMER

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