Do I Need a Bone Graft for a Dental Implant?
Hi, I’m Dr Michael Cai, the principal dentist of Pitt St Dental Centre here in Sydney CBD.
Yesterday, I was with one of our new patients, Brad from Cremone. He has had a few missing teeth for several years. However, because they have been impacting his speech and function, not to mention his smile, he now decided to do something about it.
During our consultation, he asked me, Hey Michael, I heard about bone graft. Do I need a bone graft for a dental implant?
I thought it was a great question, so I’d make a video to answer this question.
The answer to this question is… it depends…
When a tooth is missing, the bone in that area can begin to deteriorate over time. This can create a problem for dental implants, as they need a solid foundation of bone to be placed in.
During your implant consultation appointment, we will use a 3D Cone Beam CT scan to analyse your bone quantity and quality. The data from the scan is merged with implant planning software so we can determine the exact amount of bone that is required for your case.
In some cases, there may be enough bone to support the implant without needing a bone graft. However, a bone graft may be necessary if there is insufficient bone quantity.
During a bone graft procedure, the dentist may take bone from another area of your jaw or use other bone graft material to build up the bone in your jaw.
If only a minor bone graft is required, the bone graft procedure is done simultaneously with dental implant placement. However, If an extensive bone graft is required, in that case, the bone graft needs to be completed 3-6 months before dental implant placement, as the bone needs time to fuse with your existing bone and create a solid foundation for the implant.
To summarise, careful implant planning is required to indicate whether a bone graft is needed in each case. However, the procedure has an excellent outcome, and the procedure can be completed with minimum discomfort with modern anaesthetic and pain control techniques.
Here at Pitt Street Dental Centre, we offer flexible payment plans, so if you or anyone you know have a missing tooth, a few missing teeth or even all the teeth, we would love to help.
Simply call us on 02 9223 4767, complete the booking form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll be in touch to help you organise your consultation. See you soon.
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The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional personal diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen on the Site.
Services We Mentioned:
Smile Makeovers
Dental Implants
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Kristen K.
I have been going to Dr Cai for almost two years and each time I visit he and the staff are so lovely and professional. I cannot recommend them enough.
Nikki J.
Best dentists I have ever been to. I even travelled to Pitt Street Dental when we lived interstate to see them. Very capable, thoughtful and kind dentists and team.