Do I Have Enough Bone?

• After tooth extraction, if the walls of the socket are very thick, they will usually fill naturally with bone in two to three months.
• However, when the walls of your socket are very thin (such as in your upper and lower front teeth), this type of healing will not be as predictable.
• In these situations, a bone graft is often placed at the time of tooth extraction to help your body fill in the empty socket with bone.
• This step will maintain the width and volume of bone you will need for implant placement several months later.

• There may be inadequate bone for implant placement if your tooth was removed many years ago and your bony ridge is extremely thin.
• In this case, a bone graft can be placed next to the thin bone and allowed to heal for up to six months.
• After the graft has fused to your pre-existing bone, the ridge will be re-entered and the implant placed.
• Bone grafting is usually a relatively comfortable office procedure.
• Many different bone-grafting materials are available, including your own bone.

• You may also need bone grafting if the sinus cavities in your upper jaw are very large, or very low, and extend into the tooth-bearing areas.
• This often occurs when teeth in the back of a person's upper jaw have been removed many years before, and the amount of bone available for implant placement is limited.
• A "sinus grafting procedure" is then required. Most often, it is performed in the office with local anesthesia and perhaps sedation.
• During this procedure, the membrane that lines the sinus will be located and elevated.
• Bone will then be added to restore the bone height and ensure that dental implants of an adequate length can be placed.
• This procedure often can be performed at the time of implant placement.