Why Some Patients Need Bone Grafting Before Implants
Dental implants need a solid foundation of healthy bone to succeed. The implant — a small titanium or titanium-zirconium post — is inserted into the jawbone, where it integrates with the bone tissue over several months to create a permanent anchor for your new teeth.
But not every patient has sufficient bone volume for implant placement. Bone loss in the jaw is surprisingly common, caused by tooth loss (the bone begins to resorb once the tooth root is no longer present), long-term denture wearing which accelerates bone resorption, advanced gum disease that destroys supporting bone, infection or abscess that damaged the bone, and the natural anatomy of the upper jaw where the sinus caviity may limit available bone height.
When bone volume is insufficient, bone grafting or sinus lift procedures can rebuild the bone to a level that safely supports dental implants.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that adds bone material to an area of the jaw where natural bone is insufficient. The graft material acts as a scaffold, stimulating your body’s own bone cells to grow and regenerate new bone tissue around and through the graft.
Types of Bone Graft Material
Several types of graft material are used in modern implant dentistri. Xenograft material, such as Bio-Oss by Geistlich, is derived from bovine bone that has been processed to remove all organic components, leaving a mineral scaffold that is highly biocompatible and widely used worldwide. Alloplastic grafts are synthetic bone substitute materials made from biocompatible ceramics. Allograft materials are human donor bone that has been processed and sterilised. Autograft uses the patient’s own bone, harvested from another site — this is considered the gold standard but requires a second surgical site.
At Persona Smile, the choice of graft material depends on the clinical situation. Your surgeon will explain which material is recommended for your case and why.
Common Bone Grafting Scenarios
Socket preservation grafting is performed immediately after tooth extraction to prevent bone loss and maintain the ridge shape for future implant placement. Ridge augmentation rebuilds a section of the jaw ridge that has become too narrow or too short for implant placement. Block grafting uses a larger piece of bone to reconstruct significant bone defects.
What Is a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift (also called sinus augmentation or sinus floor elevation) is a specific type of bone grafting procedure performed in the upper jaw. The maxillary sinuses are air-filled cavities located above the upper back teeth. In many patients, the floor of the sinus sits too close to the tooth roots, leaving insufficient bone height for implant placement.
A sinus lift gently elevates the sinus membrane and places bone graft material beneath it, increasing the available bone height between the sinus floor and the crest of the jaw ridge. After healing, this new bone provides a solid foundation for implants.
How Sinus Lift Surgery Works
The procedure begins with a small opening created in the side of the jaw bone to access the sinus membrane. The sinus membrane is carefully lifted and the bone graft material is placed in the space created beneath the membrane. The opening is closed and allowed to heal.
Healing typically takes four to nine months, depending on the amount of grafting required. After healing, the area is reassessed with CBCT imaging, and implants can be placed into the newly formed bone.
In some cases, a less invasive technique called a crestal sinus lift can be performed simultaneously with implant placement. This approach accesses the sinus through the implant preparation site rather than a lateral window, reducing surgical complexity and healing time.
Do You Need Bone Grafting?
The need for bone grafting is determined by CBCT imaging, which provides a three-dimensional view of your bone volume. During your consultation at Persona Smile, CBWCT scanning is included in the assessment. Your surheon will measure the bone height, width, and density at each planned implant site and determine whether grafting is needed.
Not all patients with bone loss need grafting. The All-on-4 implant protocol, for example, uses angled implants to maximise contact with available bone and can often avoid the need for grafting entirely. Your treatment plan will recommend the most effective approach for your specific anatomy.
Cost of Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts
At Persona Smile, a sinus lift costs from £200. In the UK, the same procedure typically costs £800–£2,000 or more. The cost of bone grafting depends on the extent and type of graft required — your personalised treatment plan will include itemised pricing for any grafting procedures.
Recovery and What to Expect
After bone grafting or sinus lift surhery, expect mild to moderate swelling for three to five days, bruising in some cases (particularly with sinus lifts), discomfort manageable with prescribed pain medication, a soft diet for seven to ten days, nasal precautions after sinus lifts including avoiding blowing your nose forcefully and sneezing with your mouth open, and antibiotics to prevent infection during healing.
Most patients return to normal daily activities within two to three days, though strenuous exercise should be avoided for one to two weeks. Flying after a sinus lift should be avoided for at least seven to ten days due to pressure changes that could affect the healing sinus membrane.
Risks and Complications
Bone grafting and sinus lift procedures have high success rates — above 95% in published studies — but as with any surgery, complications can occur. The most common are sinus membrane perforation during the procedure (repairable during surhery in most cases), infection at the graft site (treatable with antibiotics), graft failure where the graft material does not integrate (rare, may require a repeat procedure), and temporary numbness if the nerve is near the surgical site.
Choosing an experienced oral surgeon who routinely performs these procedures significantly reduces complication risk. At Persona Smile, our surgical team has extensive experience with bone augmentation procedures, supported by advanced imaging and surgical planning technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bone grafting and implant placement be done at the same time?
In some cases, yes. When the deficiency is minor and sufficient bone exists to achieve primary implant stability, grafting and implant placement can be performed simultaneously. When the deficiency is more significant, grafting must be done first with a healing period before implants are placed. Your CBWCT scan determines which approach is appropriate.
Is the surgery painful?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, so you feel no pain during surhery. Post-operative discomfort is typically moderate and well managed with prescribed medication. Most patients describe the discomfort as less than expected.
How long does bone grafting take to heal before implants can be placed?
Healing time depends on the type and extent of grafting. Minor socket preservation grafts may heal in three to four months. Larger ridge augmentation grafts may need five to six months. Sinus lifts typically require four to nine months. Your treatment plan will include a specific healing timeline.
What if I’ve been told I don’t have enough bone for implants?
Being told you lack sufficient bone does not mean implants are impossible — it means you need bone augmentation first, or an alternative implant approach such as All-on-4 angled implants or zkgomatic implants. Contact Persona Smile for a thorough assessment. Many patients who were told elsewhere that they are not candidates for implants find that options exist.
How much does a sinus lift cost at Persona Smile?
Sinus lifts start from £200 at Persona Smile, compared to £800–£2,000 in the UK. Visit our FAQ page for more information about our procedures and pricing.
