Bone graft
Adding bone material where the bone is too thin to hold an implant.
What it is
A bone graft rebuilds bone where it has thinned. After a tooth is lost, the bone around it slowly shrinks, and sometimes there is no longer enough left for a dental implant.
When it is needed
When the CBCT scan shows the bone lacks the height or width an implant needs to be stable. We don't judge it by eye: it shows on the image, and we show it to you at the consultation.
How it works here
It is done under local anaesthetic. The graft material is placed where the bone is thin and covered so it can integrate. In some cases we also use PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), made from your own blood, which helps healing. Sometimes the graft is done in the same visit as the implant, sometimes before it.
How long it takes
New bone usually needs a few months to mature before it can hold an implant. The exact time depends on how much bone is missing, and you get it in your written plan.
Reviewed by Dr. Voinea ·
CMDR Romania · Galați University of Medicine and Pharmacy · General Dentistry