Once you have attended your consultation at Aura Dental, the dentist may talk to you about undergoing a bone graft for dental implants if he believes that your jaw bone is too thin or soft to keep the implant in place in its current state. If the bone cannot support the implant, it may cause the implant surgery to fail.
Those who have worn dentures for years are likely to have suffered bone loss. This does not mean you are unable to receive dental implants; you can still have successful implant surgery through a clinically proven procedure called bone grafting or bone augmentation.
Bone loss is bad news, not only for your teeth, but also for the facial structure. If a tooth is lost and not quickly replaced with a dental implant, over time the bone behind it will recede and give the face a sunken appearance. Bone grafts revitalise and rejuvenate the face while providing the best possible foundation for implant treatment.
- Your own bone tissue is most likely to be successful, but other human or animal sources can be used. In some cases, synthetic material may be the best option.
- Our dentist will insert this bone expertly into your jaw. The reallocated bone will mesh seamlessly into the surrounding tissue over a period of time.
- Once healed, the implant site will be as strong as natural bone and you'll be ready for implants.
In a bone graft procedure, the surgeon will take a section of bone from another area of your body, or - as is most often the case now - use a special bone grafting material, and graft it onto your jaw bone. You will then have to wait, most likely several months, while the graft creates enough new, strong bone to make sure that the implant will be stable and secure. It is possible if you only need a minor graft that the procedure might be able to be done at the same time as the implant surgery, but your dentist will make the final decision. A successful bone graft allows your jaw bone to be strong enough to support your dental implant.
We know that just like any surgical procedure, a bone graft can be daunting. We are more than happy to talk you through your procedure step by step and work out the best arrangement for you. We'll always make sure you're fully aware of every option and comfortable with your informed decisions before moving forward.