Bone Grafting for Implants

Dental implant placement requires sufficient jawbone mass and structure. Without adequate bone, dental implants can fail early or have trouble fusing with the jawbone. For this reason, bone grafting is sometimes necessary before an implant can be placed.

Dental Implants: Will I need bone grafting?

When you come into our office for a dental plant consultation, our surgeon, Dr. Turner, will thoroughly examine your jawbone structure in order to determine whether or not you will need a bone graft. The most common reasons our patients need bone grafting before implant placement include:

  • Missing tooth for several months—Your jawbone begins to deteriorate as soon as you lose a tooth or have an extraction.
  • Trauma or infection—This can cause a defect in the bone.
  • Missing front teeth—Because they are thin, the walls of the front teeth sockets often have a difficult time regenerating on their own.
  • Large or low sinus cavities—Bone grafting with a sinus lift may help restore the bone height required for implant placement.
An example of a jaw with inadequate front bone structure to support an implant
1. Inadequate Bone
A depiction of the placed bone grafting material to increase the bone structure
2. Graft Material Placed
A representation of dental implants placed after bone grafting
3. Implants Placed

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North Andover Office
North Andover Phone Number 978-975-1233
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Jawbone Health

There’s a Solution—Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a very common procedure during which we place donated bone (or your own bone taken from another site in your mouth) into the area that needs bulking up. Your body naturally grows new bone as your jaw heals during the next several months, and the donated bone grafts develop into your own bone over time.

Where does the new bone come from exactly?

For grafting, we primarily use donor bone taken from animal sources and human cadavers. We occasionally, but very rarely, use the patient’s own bone—chin, hip, leg and skull—but the potential for discomfort or complication is much higher. So, we recommend using donor sources.

A jaw lacking enough bone in the back of the mouth for a dental implant
1. Inadequate Bone
An example of a dental implant after adding jaw structure with bone grafting
2. Graft Material and Implant Placed

Can stem cells help with my healing?

Yes! At Ian M. Turner Periodontics & Implant Surgery, we combine bone grafting with platelet rich plasma. Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP for short, is a concentrate of cells that have amazing abilities to aid in tissue regeneration and healing. We draw a small tube of your blood in order to extract your platelets and add this to your bone graft to aid in healing. The use of PRP for the regeneration of bone and soft tissue in the mouth is heavily backed by evidence-based medicine and dentistry. We also use different growth factors, including platelet derived growth factor and bone morphogenetic protein.

Does bone grafting add more time to the implant process?

Yes, the process in which new bone grows in your jaw takes several months. Once the bone is adequately restored, Dr. Turner moves forward with the implant process.

Recovery from Bone Grafting

Bone grafting may cause some post-op soreness for a few days, but the appropriate analgesics will be prescribed to address the pain.

Ian M. Turner Periodontics & Implant Surgery is proud to offer the highest level of periodontal care. In addition to the latest treatments and technologies, a genuine passion for patient care allows us to provide only the best experiences and results in our office every day. Whether you are here for aesthetic or health reasons, we look forward to serving you.

For more details on bone grafting and to find out how soon you can have your implants placed, please give us a call! North Andover Phone Number 978-975-1233