Understanding Dental Implants and Bone Grafts
At The Good Dentist, we believe in empowering our patients with clear, comprehensive information about their dental implant procedure. The thought of needing a bone graft can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to guide and support you through your journey to a healthy, beautiful smile.
What is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a procedure that helps rebuild or strengthen your jawbone to create a stable foundation for dental implants. Think of it as building a strong foundation for a house – without adequate bone support, dental implants cannot be placed successfully or last long-term.
During the procedure, specially prepared bone material is placed into areas where your natural bone has diminished. Over time, this material integrates with your existing bone, creating a stronger, more stable foundation for your future implants.
Why Might You Need Bone Graft Dental?
There are several reasons why bone grafting might be recommended as part of your dental implant journey:
- Natural Bone Loss: When teeth are missing for an extended period, the jaw bone naturally begins to recede
- Gum Disease: Advanced periodontal disease can lead to bone deterioration
- Injury or Trauma: Accidents affecting the jaw area might result in bone loss
- Developmental Defects: Some patients naturally have insufficient bone density
- Sinus Considerations: Upper jaw implants sometimes require sinus lift procedures with bone grafting
Who Performs Bone Grafts?
At The Good Dentist, we perform bone grafts at our Newcastle practice. Our dental clinic offers bone grafting procedures to ensure sufficient bone structure for dental implant placement. We have the expertise and facilities to handle most bone grafting cases in-house.
However, in complex situations where a sinus lift is required in addition to bone grafting due to the proximity of the sinuses and inadequate bone volume, we will refer you to a qualified oral surgeon. This collaborative approach ensures you receive the most appropriate and specialised care for your specific needs.
The Bone Grafting Process
- Comprehensive Evaluation: We’ll perform detailed 3D imaging to assess your bone structure
- Personalised Planning: We’ll discuss your specific needs and create a custom treatment plan
- Gentle Procedure: Using advanced techniques and sedation options for your comfort
- Healing Period: Typically 4-6 months for optimal bone integration
- Regular Monitoring: We’ll track your healing progress with detailed imaging
Dental Implant and Bone Grafting FAQs
Not at all! We provide appropriate anaesthesia and sedation options to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. Most patients report minimal discomfort during recovery, easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
While every patient’s healing journey is unique, most bone grafts, whether single or full mouth dental implants need 4-6 months to fully integrate before implant placement. We’ll monitor your progress carefully to ensure optimal healing.
We offer several options, including:
- Your own bone (autografts)
- Donor bone (allografts)
- Synthetic materials
- Animal-derived materials (xenografts)
We’ll discuss which option best suits your specific needs.
Many dental insurance plans provide partial coverage for bone grafting when it’s part of implant treatment. Our friendly team will help you understand your coverage and discuss flexible payment options.
When performed by experienced professionals, bone grafting has a very high success rate of approximately 95%. Our advanced techniques and careful monitoring help ensure optimal results.
Do You Have More Questions?
Interested in learning more about bone grafting for dental implants? We invite you to schedule a consultation with our caring team. At The Good Dentist, we’re committed to making your journey to a restored smile as comfortable and successful as possible.
Contact us today or book your consultation online. Your confident smile is waiting!