Can You Do Bone Grafting and Dental Implant at the Same Time?
Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. The implant post is surgically inserted into the jaw, where it eventually fuses to the bone through a process called osseointegration. Because implants replace the whole tooth, from root to crown, they are the most stable, durable, and comfortable of all tooth replacement solutions.
To be a good candidate for dental implants, you must have enough bone to support the implants. If you have insufficient bone volume or density, you may need a bone graft to help build up your jaw and protect and support your implants. In some cases this adds a few months to the treatment, and it requires a wait-time for the implants, but in other cases, people are able to do bone grafting and dental implants at the same time. Here’s what you need to know.
What is bone grafting?
Dental bone grafting is a surgical procedure that is used to fill in the hole left by a missing tooth or to rebuild bone volume and increase bone density. The procedure involves taking a portion of bone from a different part of your body and grafting it into the jaw. The transplanted bone tissue may also come from a tissue donor, or synthetic material may be used as well. Over time, the grafting material fuses with the old bone and creates a stronger and thicker jaw bone that can support the titanium implant.
Can you do bone grafting and dental implants at the same time?
Yes, it is possible to do bone grafting and dental implants at the same time, but not in all cases.
Although the osseointegration process takes approximately 3 to 6 months to complete, the implants need to be stable within the jaw at the outset. If there is insufficient jawbone volume or density to keep the implants stable during the osseointegration period, the implant treatment is not likely to succeed.
In cases where the bone graft is needed for immediate stabilization of the implants, the bone graft needs to be done first. The bone needs time to grow and strengthen before the implants can be placed.
In cases where the bone volume is insufficient for long-term implant support but the available bone is dense enough to stabilize the implants in the immediate, the bone graft and implants can be done at the same time. As long as the implants are stable and secure, it is just fine for the osseointegration and grafting processes to occur simultaneously.
Generally, the more dense the remaining bone, the higher the likelihood it will support the implant. Dental bone grafting provides support for implants in the immediate and in the long-term by addressing both volume and density.
Need dental implants? Come see Dr. Hage—the best implant dentist in San Diego!
Dr. Armin Hage has done tens of thousands of successful dental and surgical procedures (including more than 10,000 dental implants) since 2005, and he has an extremely high success rate. If you are in need of a dental implant or bone graft, contact University Dental by giving us a call at (619) 582-4224.