Bone Grafts And Sinus Lifts

Why some of our Chelmsford patients may need these preparatory treatments ahead of dental implants.

You may well have read previous blogs about the many benefits of dental implants? We stand by this and believe that they are arguably the best solution for replacing missing teeth in most cases. The strength and stability that they provide are second to none, and certainly superior in this respect to dentures. For most people, dental implants can be placed once the patient’s oral health is satisfactory and issues like gum disease are under control. This isn’t always the case though and some patients might need a preparatory procedure to enable the implant to be placed.

This usually happens when there is insufficient bone into which to place an implant. As you know, it is this that provides the secure base for the crown to be attached to. Bone loss can occur for a number of reasons such as gum disease, loss of a tooth in the area which causes the bone to recede, or simply the process of ageing. Bone loss doesn’t always mean that you can’t have dental implants, but you might need another procedure prior to the implant being placed. These are bone grafts (or augmentation) or a sinus lift. Both of these can be provided at Blue Sky Dental and we will take a look at these now.

Bone grafts (augmentation)

The idea of having a bone graft may feel a little scary for some of our Chelmsford patients but the procedure is relatively straightforward. The bone material used in this procedure can sometimes be taken from the patient from another area of the body. This can sometimes be done in our dental clinic using a local anaesthetic, but in some cases, if taken from the hip for example, this might require a small surgical procedure at a hospital. In some cases, the bone may also be taken from another human, animal or even synthetic bone. This will be decided after deliberations as to which is the best approach to take, based on the individual in question.

To graft the bone, an incision is made in the gum and the new bone will be attached to your current bone. In addition to this, proteins and enzymes will be added to encourage healing. The area will then be stitched and the process will take a few weeks or sometimes months to complete before an implant can be placed.

As the procedure and aftercare varies with each patient, you will be given detailed advice on how to look after the area following the graft. Naturally, you will also have the opportunity to discuss the procedure in more detail during a consultation with one of our Chelmsford dentists before it takes place.

Sinus lift

Where a bone graft can be used in general areas to replace lost bone tissue, a sinus lift is restricted to the rear of the upper jaw. This is usually used when the teeth in this area have been missing for some time. Not only does the bone disappear from this area then, but the sinus membrane, which is located above, moves into this space. In order to restore the bone in this area, so that an implant can be placed into it, it is necessary to gently lift the membrane in order for a bone graft to be attached. This procedure is carried out using a local anaesthetic and has a high success rate. As with a bone graft, patience is required as it takes time for the new bone to fully graft and be strong enough to be ready for a dental implant procedure to be carried out.

Both of these procedures might feel a little daunting, and there is little doubt that they will extend the time before you can use your tooth implant fully as a natural tooth. They are both very beneficial though and mean that you can avoid having to have dentures in that area, possibly for the rest of your life.

Having dental implants does require a period of time of a little inconvenience, but it is worth remembering to offset this against the long term benefits. Once you have become accustomed to eating without worrying about unstable replacement teeth, we feel sure that you will look back at the ‘inconvenient’ period as well worth it in the long run.

At Blue Sky Dental, we have placed many teeth implants and have a very high rate of success. If you have missing teeth and are considering replacing them, we encourage you to at least talk to us about implants as an option to replace them. While we are happy to provide dentures, should you choose them, we feel that at the very least, you should be aware of the benefits of having implants so that you can make an informed decision.

To find out more about dental implants, why not arrange to have an initial consultation with our implant dentist? You can do this by giving us a call on 01245 211070 and our friendly team will be pleased to help.