Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone, preparing for the insertion of a dental implant. The aim of the graft is to provide a strong, lasting foundation into which the implant can be inserted. The procedure is performed by placing bone graft material into a deficit in the existing jaw bone, which encourages the bone to grow and heal well, reabsorbing the material as is does so. This process can take anywhere between 6 weeks to 9 months to be fully integrated, depending on the severity of the deficit and the health of the existing bone. Grafts can be done under a local anaesthetic, or we also offer oral sedation for patients who may be nervous.
There a few reasons why one could need a bone graft including:
- Gum or periodontal disease which can decrease health levels of the bone
- Injury or trauma to the face and jaw area
- Patients who have had previous extractions and have left those spaces empty, which leads to a lack of bone density
- Difficult dental extractions which resulted in bone loss