Bone Grafting

If you are considering getting a dental implant, it is important to note that dental implants require a strong and healthy jaw bone. If the jaw is weak due to a chronic condition such as osteoporosis, or the tooth/teeth have been missing for years and the jawbone has receded, a bone graft may be required with the dental implant.

Bone grafting is used to increase the amount of bone available at the site to support the dental implant. In the months after the procedure, the bone graft material acts as a scaffold for your own natural bone to form, thereby providing a natural, strong foundation for a dental implant. At our clinic, we have found that in most cases (over 95% of the time), the bone graft can be performed at the same time as implant placement. If this is the case, only 10 minutes is added to your total procedure time.

It will be an additional assurance to you to know that periodontists are required to master various bone grafting techniques as part of their university and hospital based training. This training is done full time over a three year period and is additional to a five year basic dental degree.

Bone grafting is very commonly done at our clinic, and there is nothing to fear.