Why it is needed
Bone shrinks after extraction, and keeps shrinking under a denture.
In one paragraph
What it is.
Jawbone shrinks once a tooth is gone, because nothing is loading it any more. Wait long enough and there is not enough left to hold an implant.
Grafting rebuilds it. Sometimes that is a small amount placed at the same appointment as the implant; sometimes it is a separate procedure months in advance. A 3D scan tells us which.
The specifics.
Socket preservation
Grafting at the time of extraction, which avoids most of the loss.
Sinus lift
For upper back teeth, where the sinus has dropped into the space.
Timing
Sometimes with the implant, sometimes months before it.
The scan
3D imaging shows exactly what bone is there. It starts with a free consultation with our implant consultant.
Told you had too little bone?
Worth a second look. It is frequently solvable.
Money
What it costs.
You get an itemised written estimate before anything starts. We bill your insurance directly, so you usually pay only your own portion on the day, and the Canadian Dental Care Plan is accepted. In-house financing is available through PaySpyre, so treatment can be paid for over time.
Questions.
Am I too far gone for implants?
Often not. Being told there is not enough bone usually means grafting is needed first, not that implants are impossible. A 3D scan settles it.
How long before I can have the implant?
Where grafting is done separately, healing commonly takes several months. Smaller grafts placed alongside the implant add no extra wait.
Where does the graft material come from?
Usually processed graft material rather than your own bone, which avoids a second surgical site. Which is appropriate is discussed at the consultation.
Is it painful?
It is done under local anaesthetic with sedation available, and most people describe the recovery as similar to an extraction.