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Bone Grafting

A bone graft can be the first step on the way to creating a secure foundation and an aesthetically strong jaw

...whether you have your sights set on restoring a gap in your smile with a dental implant or are considering your options for rebuilding the shape and structure of your jawline due to reversible premature weakening of the bone caused by tooth loss, . 

At Truly Dental, your assessment and treatment will be in the hands of our highly skilled specialist in implant surgery and bone augmentation, who has trained under the world’s leading authorities on bone biology and dental restoration and is dedicated to putting these ground-breaking techniques and skill to the service of our patients, no matter how complex or challenging their need.

What is a dental bone graft?

What is a dental bone graft?

Sufficient bone quality and quantity is essential for a successful dental implant. The density of your jawbone is directly impacted by the loss of a tooth, whether through trauma, disease, or following a tooth extraction. Once a tooth is removed, the bone in that area begins to resorb – that is, it is no longer receiving stimulus from the root of the lost tooth, and so calcium is leached from that area to be utilised elsewhere in the body leading to growth and maintenance of the bone to stop, and the bone to thin and weaken. Advanced periodontal (gum) disease, tooth trauma or injury, certain developmental conditions, long term denture wear, or infection can also contribute to loss of bone density over time. 

This low-density foundation may need to be reinforced, strengthened and restored via a Bone Graft procedure, so that it can properly support a Dental Implant. If you have lost multiple teeth, a bone graft is also an effective, rewarding solution to the premature shrinking of the jawline and resultant sunken, aging facial appearance this can lead to. Bone grafting or dental bone augmentation is an innovative treatment option to regenerate your missing bone, helping to rejuvenate your facial structure and vastly improve your chances of implant success. 

Benefits of Dental Bone Grafting

Benefits of Dental Bone Grafting

  • Regenerate missing bone, building up the strength and density of your jaw
  • Reconstruct and restore your jawline, particularly after multiple tooth loss, and take years off your appearance
  • Increase the success rate and optimise results from Dental Implant surgery
  • Improves the success and long-term retention of full and partial Dentures
  • Allows patients who were previously deemed unsuitable to experience the benefits of Dental Implants 

What to Expect When Getting a Bone Graft

What to Expect When Getting a Bone Graft

Initial consultation 

If you and your dentist are consulting on a treatment plan including one or more dental implants, your clinician will first of all carry out a comprehensive dental examination to determine whether or not a bone graft will be necessary to restore bone quality and quantity in the area of the space. 

Your dentist will use the clinic’s high-tech 3D CT scanner to assess the density of your bone, and the extent of bone that will need to be replaced to ensure a successful implant procedure (as the amount of bone to be grafted is directly proportional to the number of implants needed). If a bone graft is revealed to be necessary in advance of further restoration treatment, your dentist will discuss all of your treatment options in depth during this consultation, including going through with you the decision-making process for each available graft material (synthetic, processed or natural bone).

At this stage your dentist will of course be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will be able to provide you with a full treatment plan including the estimated time until completion of not only your bone graft, but also the implant surgery and final restoration, and a detailed breakdown of all costs involved. 

Bone graft procedure

The bone grafting procedure itself is generally very straightforward and painless. This involves carefully lifting the gum at the point where the bone is thin, to place the restorative graft material which will fuse with your remaining bone under the gumline.  The timing of this minor surgical procedure will greatly depend on each patient’s individual case.

If your tooth extraction was a planned step of your initial treatment plan with our clinic, rather than the result of accidental loss, it is sometimes possible for patients to have their bone graft carried out on the same day as their dental extraction. However, if your situation is not suitable for these procedures to be carried out back-to-back, a separate procedure appointment will be scheduled for you. 

Once your bone graft(s) is in place, except in the case of very limited grafting where your implant procedure can also be carried out during the same appointment, your graft will need to undergo a period of healing and maturation for 3 to 9 months before your implant can be placed. Your dentist will always be able to advise you of the best method and timeframe for proceeding to ensure the success of your implant while going through your treatment plan at your initial consultation. 

Bone graft recovery

In most cases a bone graft conducted by an oral surgery specialist is a simple and uncomplicated procedure. Most patients will experience some mild to moderate discomfort, swelling/, and bruising in the days after treatment. However this is a perfectly natural part of the healing process, and your dentist will prescribe you with appropriate medication to promote your recovery, in addition to providing you with thorough guidance on beneficial aftercare of your mouth and teeth to ensure the healing period is entirely manageable. 

Questions?Answers

Do I need a dental bone graft?

If you are considering replacing a space in your smile with a dental implant following the loss of a tooth or multiple teeth, it is possible that you will be among the large proportion of people who require a bone graft prior to implant surgery. The longer an area of bone in your jaw has been without a tooth, the greater the loss of density and shrinkage of the bone and the greater the chance that you will need pre-treatment with a bone graft. The graft will bond to your remaining bone, regenerating that foundation for a solid, secure dental implant to be placed effectively, safely, and successfully. 

Can I get a dental implant without a bone graft?

While it is certainly possible in some cases to undergo implant surgery without prior-treatment with a bone graft, this will always depend on an assessment of your individual case. If you are soon to have a tooth extracted, or you wish to fill a long-standing gap in your smile from a previous tooth loss, your dentist will take a CT scan to assess the quality and quantity of your bone to determine if your case is suitable for a restoration with a dental implant, and whether there is sufficient healthy bone to support an immediate implant, or you will require a bone graft as a necessary first step to successfully support the implant. 

If for any reason you do not wish to undergo a bone grafting procedure, unfortunately your dentist will not be able to proceed with your dental implant, as there will not be adequate bone structure to securely anchor the implant in place, and that intensive and costly dental procedure could easily fail and cause further complications. 

Your dentist will be happy to address any questions or concerns you have regarding bone augmentation, and will only proceed with that preparation with your full understanding, consent, and enthusiasm. If a bone graft is just not for you, they will likewise be able to look at alternative treatments with you to replace the gap in your smile using a variety of proven restorative procedures, such as dental Bridges or Dentures

Does the procedure hurt?

No, we use a highly effective local anaesthetic to numb the area before your procedure begins so that the bone graft process is entirely pain free. 

It is common to experience some discomfort, swelling ,and bruising after this minor surgical procedure. This is a natural stage of the body’s healing process that can be effectively managed with the medication prescription your dentist will provide you at your procedure appointment. 

How does a bone graft work?

In essence, a bone graft provides a body-safe scaffold to stimulate the re-growth of blood vessels in a thin or shrunken part of your bone, which then provide nutrients to the area that will promote the formation of new bone. 

On average it usually takes between 3 to 9 months for the graft to fully fuse with your natural structure and mature into reenforced bone, providing a solid foundation for your dental implant once the area is strong enough.

Are there any risks to getting a bone graft?

Bone grafts are an extremely reliable, safe treatment with a very high success rate when carried out by a skilled surgical specialist, allowing for the replacement of missing teeth with dental implants even in complex cases or for patients who had previously been told they were not suitable to avail of treatment with implants.  

The main risk involved with a bone graft is the small chance that your body may reject it – an unfortunate possible outcome of any transplant or grafting procedure. At Truly Dental we choose the materials we use for bone grafts specifically to minimise and offset this risk, however there is still a chance for factors such as smoking and certain medical conditions to impact an individual’s risk of rejection. 

There are no inherent dangers or issues associated with a failed graft, and if this occurs in your case, your dentist will remove the failed graft, with the only chief concern involved for patients being the time required to allow the area to heal before another graft can be carried out. 

What material is used for a bone graft?

A number of materials are suitable for use in the bone graft procedure, and the choice recommended by your dentist to maximise successful fusing to the natural bone in your specific case will depend on the size and location of the weakened or unhealthy area of bone. 

In modern dentistry, the material used in your bone graft can be derived from one of several sources: 

  1. Bone sample taken from your own body, to minimise any risk of rejection, usually from the mouth
  2. A human doner, using samples from a regulated and sterilised source
  3. Animal sources from exhaustively regulated and safety-tested sample sources
  4. A body-safe synthetic material which, once fused, is functionally identical to your natural bone
Can I be sedated for a dental bone graft?

While the dental bone grafting procedure is entirely painless, due to the use of highly efficient localised anaesthetic, at Truly Dental we do also offer for this procedure to be carried out under dental sedation for any patient who would prefer this treatment experience. 

For any patients who are prone to extreme nerves when faced with a new dental procedure, dental sedation ensures that while you will still be awake, you will be placed into a completely relaxed and calm state for the duration of the procedure, which will pass pleasantly, quickly, and easily for you. You will have little memory of the procedure after it is over, eliminating present and future dental-related stress and anxiety so that you can experience the benefits of this life-changing treatment in complete confidence.

How much does a bone graft cost?

At Truly Dental, the cost of a bone graft procedure starts at €400. 

The total cost will vary depending on the location and size of the graft required, which your dentist will be able to determine and inform you of during your initial consultation in the preparation of your treatment plan. You can explore additional information regarding the pricing of dental implant treatment here to learn more about tooth replacement options following your bone graft.

We believe in providing you with fair prices and complete transparency when it comes to cost. Your dentist will always give you a detailed cost breakdown of all stages as part of your specific treatment plan at your initial consultation at the outset of your treatment with us. They will be able to discuss with you all of the payment plan options we have available at Truly Dental to best suit your treatment goals, situation, and budget. 

Don’t put up with the discomfort and frustration of a declining jawbone or missing teeth any longer! 

Call (0)1 525 2670 or book your initial consultation with one of our skilled implantologists and oral surgery specialists today

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