Bone Augmentation

Dental implants can be a godsend for people who have lost their permanent teeth. For the greatest benefit, however, patients must have enough bone to secure the implants. For people who do not, bone augmentation is a critical step for preparing the jaw for implantation. Here’s what you should know about this important procedure. When someone doesn’t have enough healthy bone to support implant placement, Dr. Hammoud may perform a bone graft. A painless and minimally invasive procedure, placing a bone graft begins by applying a local anesthetic to numb the area. We then expose the bone by making an incision in the gum tissue. We then place the bone graft material in the deficient area of the existing bone inside the mouth. Packed with proteins and collagen, the graft material encourages bone growth. As the new bone grows, it will replace the graft material. It can take between one and six months for the bone to heal well enough to hold a dental implant, depending on the condition of the existing bone and the extent of the graft. The graft material may come from cadavers, animals, and sometimes in synthetic form, called alloplast. Alloplast is developed in a laboratory.

Key Benefits

• Makes implants possible for more patients
• Restores jawbone density
• Minimally invasive
• IV sedation available
• Natural bone regeneration

Frequently Asked Questions