Guide
Will I need a bone graft for dental implants?
Maybe not. Many people have enough bone for an implant. Here is what decides it — and how a 3D scan gives you a clear answer.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rodolfo Rodriguez, DMD · Updated
What decides it
- How long the tooth has been missing. Bone shrinks over time after a tooth is lost.
- Why the tooth was lost. Infection and gum disease can destroy bone around a tooth.
- Where the implant goes. The upper back jaw sits under the sinus and often has less height; a sinus lift can add it.
- The width of the bone. An implant needs bone on both sides of it.
How the scan answers it
A 3D CBCT scan taken here in the office measures the height, width and density of your bone. It shows whether an implant fits as is, whether a small graft is needed at the same visit, or whether bone needs rebuilding first.
Ways around a graft
Sometimes an implant can be angled, or chosen, to fit the bone you have. That's the idea behind the angled back implants of All-on-4.
If you do need one
A small graft can often be placed with the implant. A larger one is placed first and given a few months to heal. See bone grafting.
Keeping the bone you have
If a tooth has to come out and an implant is planned, a graft in the socket at the same visit can preserve the bone. Ask about it before the extraction.
FAQs
Is a bone graft painful?
Does a graft add time?
Related
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