Extractions and ridge preservation
When a tooth needs to be removed and an implant placed, we always consider immediate placement. Some people are not eligible for an immediate implant due to long roots, the proximity of the maxillary sinus, or bone loss around the infected tooth. In these cases, bone grafting (ridge preservation) will be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date. If bone grafting is not done at the time of extraction, more significant grafting is more likely required.
Sinus Lift Augmentation
After the loss of upper back teeth, your sinuses may enlarge in size. Before new implants replace the lost teeth, a sinus lift augmentation or graft relocates the sinus lining into its original position and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically can be done at the same time of implant placement but takes at least 4-6 months to heal. If there is not enough bone to place the implant right away, it takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.
Ridge Augmentation
When the bone is too thin, ideal areas where dental implants are to be placed do not have sufficient bone quantity to predictably place the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to graft bone. The most common type of bone graft is from another human, a donor. It is sterilized and freeze-dried such that only the mineralized content remains.
