Do I have enough bone for dental implants?
After a tooth extraction, if the socket walls are thick, bone will usually regenerate naturally within two to three months. But when the walls are thin, like in the upper and lower front teeth, healing is less predictable. In such cases, a bone graft is often placed during extraction to encourage your body to fill the socket with new bone. This helps preserve the bone’s width and volume, which are essential for successful implant placement a few months later.
If your tooth was extracted years ago and your bony ridge has become very thin, there may not be enough bone to support an implant. A bone graft can be added alongside the thin ridge and allowed to heal for up to six months. Once the graft has integrated with your existing bone, the site can be reopened for implant placement. Bone grafting is typically a comfortable procedure performed in-office. Various graft materials are available, including bone from your own body.
You might also need bone grafting if the sinus cavities in your upper jaw are large or low, extending into the area where teeth should be. This often happens when back upper teeth were removed long ago, limiting bone height for implants. A “sinus grafting procedure” may be recommended. Usually done in the office with local anesthesia and optional sedation, this involves gently lifting the sinus membrane and adding bone to restore height. This ensures dental implants of sufficient length can be placed. Often, sinus grafting is done at the same time as implant placement.