Placing an implant requires enough bone to anchor it for good. When there is not enough — whether in width or in height — the bone volume needed can be rebuilt with a graft, a key step towards long-term success.
Situation 1: the bone is not thick enough
When the bone is too thin, more has to be added on top. A small block of bone is taken from another area of your mouth (behind the lower molars or from the chin, where there is plenty) and moved to where it is needed.
- 6 months of healing are needed before the next stage: patience is required.
- Then the implant is placed.
- And finally, 4 to 5 months later, the permanent crown is fitted.
Patience pays off: a successful bone graft means an implant solution you can rely on for the very long term.
Situation 2: the bone has shrunk after an extraction
In the upper jaw, after an old extraction, the bone may have collapsed, leaving too little height to anchor an implant.
The site is prepared by adding synthetic bone of bovine origin, placed from the side. After 6 months’ healing, the implants can be placed.
A reliable, well-established procedure
97% success at 20 years: bone augmentation is now a standard part of modern implantology.
