If you’re looking for a dental implant in Richmond and discover that you have insufficient bone to secure the posts into, then your surgeon may well suggest a bone graft. Although it sounds an incredibly complex procedure, bone grafts are relatively common in implant surgery and are something that many clinics carry out. Here at Sheen Dental we have a highly experienced team led by Dr Harmit Kalsi who frequently carries out bone grafting procedures. So how do they work?
There are a number of ways that bone density can be lost including chronic infection, long-term wearing of dentures, ageing or accidents. The action of a bone graft is to increase the width and the depth of the patient’s jawbone thus creating more space for the implant to fasten into. For this to work, bone is taken from either the patient’s own body (usually other areas in the jaw) or alternatively from a specially treated bone bank. The bone is then grafted into position. Over time, the bone will heal giving a secure platform upon which to place the dental implant. The process takes around 3-6 months and only if this is successful, can implant surgery take place.
Irrespective of the source of the bone graft and which clinic carries it out, the results are meant to stimulate bone regeneration in the affected area as quickly as possible. One way to make sure this happens is to place a membrane or barrier around the newly grafted bone. This prevents the surrounding tissue which is rapidly growing, from filling in areas which the new bone should regenerate into.
Here at Sheen Dental we are your specialists for dental implants in Richmond and we use two main options for bone grafts. The first is called a ‘block bone graft’. This is where bone is taken from another healthy area of your jaw. The second is known as ‘guided bone regeneration’. This is often used when there is insufficient bone to carry out a block bone graft and instead bone is taken from a specialist bone bank.
What about when bone grafts won’t work?
On some occasions, bone grafting may not be possible and when this happens a dentist may have another option of inserting a plate into the area to hold the implants in place.
For further information on just how we can help you to restore that perfect smile and bring back your self confidence, contact us today on 020 8876 5277. Alternatively for the very best dental implants in Richmond take a look at our website at www.sheendental.co.uk