Bone Grafting for Implants

Kokomo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Kokomo IN

Dr. Thompson has many years of experience in the placement of dental implants. The process has changed over the years and Dr. Thompson has maintained a conservative, yet state of art approach to the process of dental implant placement. We use leading edge iCAT 3-D imaging, which gives us a very detailed x-ray that we use for precise placement of your dental implant.  We also utilize iTero digital impressions, which eliminate the messy, runny traditional dental impression process.  Using innovative technology, we work with your dentist to give you the best implant treatment option.  Dental implants are not for everybody, as some patients simply are not good candidates for a dental implant for one reason or another. Dr. Thompson will consult with you in a thorough manner to see if implants would be the best solution in your individual situation.

Do I Have Enough Bone?

After tooth extraction, if the walls of the socket are very thick, they will usually fill naturally with bone in approximately four months. However, when the walls of your socket are thinner, this type of healing will not be as predictable. In these situations, a bone graft is often placed at the time of tooth extraction to help your body fill in the empty socket with bone. This step will maintain the width and volume of bone you will need for implant placement several months later.

1. Inadequate Bone

2. Graft Material Placed

3. Implants Placed

There may be inadequate bone for implant placement if your tooth was removed many years ago and your bony ridge is extremely thin. In this case, it might be possible to place a bone graft next to the thin bone and allowed to heal for up to six months. After the graft has fused to your pre-existing bone, the ridge will be re-entered and the implant placed. Bone grafting is usually a relatively comfortable office procedure.

1. Inadequate Bone

2. Graft Material and Implant Placed

You may also need bone grafting if the sinus cavities in your upper jaw are very large, or very low, and extend into the tooth-bearing areas. This often occurs when teeth in the back of a person’s upper jaw have been removed many years before, and the amount of bone available for implant placement is limited. A “sinus grafting procedure” is then required. Most often, it is performed in the office with local anesthesia and perhaps sedation. During this procedure, the membrane that lines the sinus will be located and elevated. Bone will then be added to restore the bone height and ensure that dental implants of an adequate length can be placed. This procedure often can be performed at the time of implant placement.