If you’ve recently been for a consultation with your dentist in Kent about having dental implants fitted, you may have left feeling disappointed that you will need to have a bone or sinus graft before you get the dental implants fitted.
A dental bone graft is sometimes required to increase the amount of bone in the jaw before surgery takes place. This is important as inadequate jaw bone means the dental implants won’t bond with the bone.
There are usually two types of bone graft, a bone graft as a separate form of surgery which changes the shape and size of the dental ridge. This procedure would usually be performed by oral surgeons or Periodontists. The second type is where the jaw has enough bone to place the implant, but not enough to cover the sides. These grafts can be carried out at the same time as the surgery as they are usually small in size.
The bone graft involves taking a sample of bone from one of your own sources such as your hip, freeze dried human bone from a tissue bank or processed bone elements from animals.
Alternatively a sinus graft procedure can be used. An incision is made in the patient’s gum tissue on the cheek side of their upper jaw where the implant is planned. The exposed bone them forms a ‘trap door’ of bone and can be easily moved aside and gently inward and upward into the sinus cavity. The empty space is then packed full of bone-graft material which forms new bone, onto which the implant can be placed. After stitching the gum tissue closed, it’s then possible to place the dental implant at the same time as the sinus lift.
At Parrock Dental and Implant Centre, Dr Rik Trivedi can assess your suitability for dental implants. He has completed a year’s course in Dental Implantology at the Harley Street centre for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry, so you can feel assured that you’ll be treated in the best of hands.
If you need dental implants in Kent, please call Parrock Dental and Implant Centre on 01474 537 191 to book an appointment. Our opening hours are Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 8pm, Friday from 9am to 3pm and Saturday from 9am to 2pm.