Bone Graft for Dental Implants
An implant needs enough bone around it to be stable. When bone has been lost after an extraction, gum disease or years of wearing a denture, grafting can rebuild the area so an implant can be placed.
When grafting may be needed
- After a tooth is removed, the bone that supported it gradually shrinks
- Gum disease can destroy bone around teeth
- Long-term denture wear can flatten the ridge
- In the upper back jaw, the sinus can leave little bone height
- Infection, cysts or injury can leave defects
Your CBCT scan shows the height and width of bone available, which tells us whether grafting is needed.
Common approaches
Socket preservation
Graft material placed into the socket at the time of an extraction to reduce shrinkage while it heals.
Ridge augmentation
Adding width or height to a narrow or thin ridge, either before or at the same time as the implant.
Sinus lift
Raising the sinus floor in the upper back jaw and adding graft material to create height for an implant.
Graft materials may come from your own body, a donor source or a synthetic substitute, usually covered with a protective membrane. We'll explain what's planned for you and why. Where a procedure is better carried out by a specialist oral surgeon or periodontist, we'll refer you.
Same day or staged?
Simultaneous: where there's enough bone to hold the implant steady, a small graft can be placed at the same time.
Staged: for larger defects, the graft is placed first and allowed to heal — often for several months — before the implant goes in.
Grafting is quoted individually and usually adds time to treatment. We'll give you a timeline with your plan.
Recovery & risks
Swelling and discomfort are usually greater than for an implant alone. Risks include infection, graft material being lost, membrane exposure, and after a sinus lift, sinus congestion or a sinus membrane tear. Grafts don't always produce enough bone, and further grafting or a different plan may be needed.
Ready to book your visit?
Book online in a minute, or call us on 03 6200 8800. We're at 1 Warneford St, Hobart.
Hobart
1 Warneford St, Hobart TAS 7000
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03 6200 8800
reception@napoldental.com.au
| Monday – Friday | 10:30am – 4:30pm |
| Saturday | 11:00am – 3:00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
All appointments are by booking only — sorry, no walk-ins.
Parking on Warneford St or at the rear of the practice.