Implants with Bone Grafting
Where a tooth was extracted long ago or gum disease was severe, the bone has become thin. Filling the bone first makes implant placement possible.
Bone grafting (guided bone regeneration, GBR) fills missing jawbone at the implant site with graft material and covers it with a barrier membrane so that new bone grows there. If the deficiency is small it is done together with the implant; if large, the bone is built first and the implant placed later.
Who it is for
- The gum has sunk since a tooth was extracted long ago
- I was told gum disease has dissolved a lot of bone
- Years of wearing dentures have thinned my jawbone
- I want a natural-looking front tooth implant
- I want to preserve the bone right when a tooth is extracted
- I was advised to get short implants because bone is lacking
We plan from the moment of extraction
After an extraction, the bone width at that site shrinks greatly within a few months. Filling the socket with graft material at extraction (socket preservation) often avoids a large bone graft later.
Bone grafting methods
Socket preservation
Graft material is placed in the socket right after extraction to keep the bone from collapsing.
Simultaneous bone grafting
While placing the implant, exposed areas are covered with graft material and a membrane.
Staged reconstruction
Severely deficient bone is first shaped and built with a titanium membrane or mesh, then the implant is placed.
Treatment steps
- 3D CT diagnosisWe measure bone width and height and how much is missing.
- PlanningWe decide whether the implant can be placed at the same time or the bone must be built first.
- Bone graft surgeryGraft material is placed, covered with a membrane, and the gum is stitched closed.
- Bone maturationUsually 4–6 months, depending on the area.
- Implant · restorationThe implant is placed in the firm bone and the tooth is attached.
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia
- Stitch removal
- After 1–2 weeks
- Bone maturation
- Usually 4–6 months
- Swelling
- 3–5 days
Before treatment
- The surgical area may swell and bruise for a few days.
- If the stitched gum opens, some graft material may come out and need additional treatment.
- Smoking greatly interferes with bone formation.
- The larger the graft, the more likely less bone remains than predicted.
- Treatment results and recovery time vary with each patient's oral condition.
We start once you fully understand
Before treatment we explain why bone grafting is needed, how long it takes, the cost and possible side effects. Treatment begins once your questions are answered.
Frequently asked questions
What is bone graft material made of?
There is autogenous bone, allograft, xenograft and synthetic bone. They are mixed depending on the size and location of the defect, and we explain which material is used at the consultation.
Does bone grafting hurt a lot?
It is done under local anesthesia, so there is almost no pain during surgery. The first 2–3 days after surgery are the most uncomfortable, mostly controlled with prescribed painkillers.
Can the implant be placed right after bone grafting?
If the deficiency is small, it is placed the same day. If it is large, it is safer to wait until the bone firms up.
Is bone grafting charged separately?
Additional costs apply depending on the area and material, and they are not covered by health insurance. We tell you the exact cost after diagnosis.
Can bone grafts fail?
If the stitched area opens or becomes infected, part of the graft may be resorbed. In that case we add graft after healing.
Board-certified periodontist · wrote and reviewed this page. Lectures for dentists on alveolar bone grafting and reconstruction with titanium membranes. Last updated