Whether you’re seeking a dental implant in Richmond or Birmingham, it can often be the case that your dentist recommends a bone graft prior to receiving a dental implant. It could be that your bone level is too low, which often happens if a tooth has been missing for several years or it could be that you have a high smile line. Bone graft material often derived from natural tissue, is put into the site of the intended dental implant to provide more support for the titanium implant and prevent it from coming loose or falling out altogether. The implant itself will fuse with the bone and act like a substitute tooth root. Not only does this give additional support to the implant but it also restores the jawbone to a more natural shape, improving the natural contours of the face.
The bone grafting procedure
Once you and the dentist have decided that a bone graft is likely to aid the success of a dental implant, then your appointment for the bone graft will be scheduled several weeks prior to the placement of the implant to give the graft a chance to integrate with existing bone. In addition during the placement of the implant as a natural part of the procedure, small amounts of bone will collect and be incorporated back into the surrounding bone to increase the chances of success.
Mini Implants as an alternative
If you don’t want to venture down the bone graft route, but don’t have sufficient density in your bone, then there is a possibility that mini dental implants may offer a solution. These are very similar to traditional dental implants but are much smaller in diameter and consequently don’t require the same level of bone density and are useful for supporting fixtures in difficult areas. The results have a high success rate and the process is less invasive, less costly, and can be easily replaced if needs be. They are typically used to secure lower dentures.
If you’ve been previously told that you weren’t a candidate for dental implants in Richmond or elsewhere, then why not give us a call to book a free no-obligation consultation. It could be that a bone graft will solve your problem or even that mini dental implants are suitable. Please feel free to call us on 020 8876 5277 or visit the website at www.sheendental.co.uk. We’d love to help.