Occasionally, patients require dental bone grafts before their implant placement to help increase the success rate of their procedure.
What if I’m told that I don’t have enough jaw bone volume to place an implant?
The fixture of the dental implant replaces the tooth root and acts like an artificial root, which allows the abutment and prosthetic to be attached. For the implant fixture to secure successful, there has to been a particular amount of bone in the jaw for the implant to take hold. If you have been missing a tooth or have badly damaged teeth, your facial bones may have shrunk over time, and there may not be enough bone for implant fixture to be placed.
A bone graft procedure is a fairly common way to add bone ‘volume’ to the area, which then allows for the implant fixture to be placed. After your initial assessment and x-rays, your dentist will know the depth and quality of your bone and then recommend the bone grafting option best for you.
The Bone Grafting Procedure
Typically, your dental surgeron will remove your damaged teeth and will collect the available tissue, blood and any available old bone from the old tooth socket. This is then mixed with artificial bone and added to the required area. This mix will then left to graft on to your exisiting jaw bone, thickening the area and allowing for the succesful placement of a dental implant fixture.
Bone Graft Healing
The healing process for bone grafting quite similar to having an implant fixture placed. Patients can expect a slight increase in swelling and tenderness in the area. Any discomfort or swelling can be easily managed by anti-inflammatory medications.
Book a Complimentary Consultation
Speak to Specialist Prosthodontist Dr Zaninovich
"*" indicates required fields
Why do I need to have Bone Grafting?
What is Osseointegration?
Osseointegration is where a direct structural and functional connection between the living jaw bone and the surface of a load-carrying implant is made. After All on 4 dental implants are placed into the jawbone, the bone grows right up to the implant surface, stabilising the implant without any other soft tissues or fibres between the jawbone and implant. A strong bond is a key to the All on 4 teeth replacement solutions.
What is Jaw Bone Resorption?
When you lose some or all of your teeth, you also lose your tooth root, which is vital for stimulating your jaw bone and is why tooth replacement is so necessary. This stimulation keeps your bones strong; without this, the bone starts to resorb or disintegrate. Eventually, the resorption can be pretty noticeable, with the individual’s lower face and mouth beginning to fall in.
All on 4 implants help prevent jaw bone resorption as the implant acts as an artificial tooth root, stimulating the jaw bone and maintaining a more youthful appearance. If you already suffer from jaw bone respiration, you will likely require bone grafting to proceed with your full teeth replacement. Hence, you have enough bone before your all on 4 implant treatment or opt for a Zygomatic implant option. Jaw bone resorption is very common amongst users of traditional dentures.
Zygoma Dental Implants
Zygomatic implants are considered a relatively new advancement in dental implant technology. Since their introduction into the dental implant world, they have been gaining popularity for their effectiveness in patients who would otherwise not qualify for dental implant placement. The use of Zygoma dental implants eliminates the need for jaw bone grafting.
If you have severe maxillary (posterior teeth) jaw bone resorption and require a complete teeth replacement, Zygomatic implants might be the implants for you. These implants dramatically shorten the total rehabilitation or “time-to-teeth” compared to other methods to restore a patient’s top jaw bone.
After a person loses their teeth and needs teeth replacements, the jaw bone gets lost over time. When you have a denture, this can place pressure and cause more progressive bone loss. Down the road, this can cause severe bone loss and make the denture no longer fit. Some traditional dental titanium implants may not be an option if the jaw bone loss is this severe. Zygoma implants were developed especially for these types of cases.
Consultation and assessment should be completed by a Dental Specialist. These Zygomatic implant treatments are not as common as traditional dental implant treatment and require an expert with extensive experience and skill.
Fewer Procedures, a Faster Journey. The procedure is safe and predictable when performed by an experienced surgeon. This procedure is an effective workaround for those with a poor bone mass, requiring bone grafting or a sinus lift for their All on 4 procedure. The Zygoma implants procedure is completed at Aria Dental’s Perth Dental Implant Centre, under IV Sedation, by our Specialist Prosthodontist Dr Michael Zaninovich.
Sinus Augmentation
When a patient has lost their rear upper molars, their tooth roots can no longer stimulate the bone which can cause bone atrophy (wasting). This atrophy causes the upper jaw to expand (sinus pneumatisation), leaving inadequate bone to support dental implants. A sinus lift – which is a bone graft in the upper jaw that pushes the sinus upwards – can remedy this problem. A sinus lift is also known as a sinus augmentation, sinus graft or sinus elevation.
Understanding a sinus lift
A sinus lift involves bone grafting, but it differs as the new bone is deposited higher in the upper jaw. The extra bone sits internally, not outwards or downwards, as with a bone graft in the lower jaw. Consequently, a bone graft requires more post-operative care.
With a sinus lift, you won’t feel any dramatic changes in your mouth or gums. You may even be able to wear a denture afterwards without disturbing the healing process, which can take anywhere between three to 12 months, depending on the amount of sinus grafting required.
In some instances, the implant fixtures can be placed at the same time as the sinus grafting procedure. Implants placed in sites that have been grafted show similar success and survival rates as implants placed in native natural bone. At Aria Dental, our experienced team perform sinus graft procedures routinely. We often use piezosurgery which is less invasive than conventional surgical methods, with quicker recovery time.
After surgery, you may experience swelling and bruising around the cheeks and some discomfort which can be managed with appropriate analgesics.
After your sinus lift, you must avoid altering the internal pressure of the sinus cavity. This means avoiding:
