A bone graft may be required before getting dental implants if the patient is lacking healthy bone to support the implant. Here's more from our Surrey and Langley dentists about bone grafting for dental implants.
Dental implants can be a great way to restore appearance and function to your smile.
That said, getting dental implants may not be as straight forward as you think. If your jaw is lacking healthy bone where the implant is to be placed, bone grafting will be required before the dental implant process can begin.
What is bone grafting?
Bone grafting will help to strengthen your jawbone and create a stable base upon which the restoration will depend. Put simply, bone grafting is a bone transplant where material from one part of your body (or synthetic bone material) is grafted onto the bone in another part of your body.
Bone grafts are typically performed to fix an area of bone has been damaged, or that needs to be increased in volume.
If you choose dental implants to replace your missing teeth, but your jaw bone isn't thick enough, or strong enough to support to the dental implants, a bone graft may be necessary.
Having a bone graft creates a solid foundation that can support implant.
Do I need a bone graft for my dental implant?
Whether you will need a bone graft depends on the number of dental implants you require, and the condition of your jaw bone.
Some patients will require a significant bone graft which can take up to nine months to heal before the dental implant process can begin.
In other cases a minor bone graft is sufficient. The benefit of a minor bone graft is that the graft can be performed at the same time as the implant surgery.
Dental implants could restore the function and appearance of your smile, but it's important to remember that they do require surgery and may not be the best option everyone.