Bone Grafting

For some people, bone loss after the removal or loss of teeth leaves them without enough to secure an implant.

Sinus augmentation – In the upper jaw above the back teeth, it is possible to increase the height of bone available by creating new bone in the sinus. This procedure is called a ‘sinus augmentation’. A skilled surgeon can deliver very predictable results in this location and without the general success of this technique many patients would be unable to have dental implants in a part of the mouth where teeth are so commonly missing.

Onlay grafting – There are many ways in which bone can be added to, however one simple concept is to take a piece of bone from somewhere else and secure it as an ‘onlay graft’ to a deficient area. The new piece of bone will slowly join to the underlying region and when healed and mature, an implant can be placed in a more favourable position.