Bone augmentation prior to an implant placement

Bone augmentation: regenerating bone that has been lost

For dental implants to be successful, a solid bony foundation has to be in place. We can help patients with a reduced amount of bone using bone-building and regenerative measures.

Thanks to three-dimensional diagnostics we determine the extent of the bone augmentation required precisely, even before the implant is placed. Depending on the extent of the bone deficit, various procedures are available.

Bone replacement materials

Human bone has the ability to partly rebuild itself. Biomaterials, or bone replacement materials, support the body in regenerating bone that has been lost. A smaller bone defect can be compensated with bone replacement material applied in the area of the defect. We frequently add bone chips in order to promote the regeneration process.

Autologous bone

In the case of larger defects in width, with jaw ridges that are too narrow or too flat, with a loss of bone height or in atrophied areas of the jaw, we recommend compensating the bone deficit by transplanting the patient's own bone as gently and minimally invasively as possible. We carry out this bone augmentation using microsurgical techniques in order to keep the strain on you as low as possible.

The key facts at a glance

  • For implants, the jaw needs a sufficient bony foundation.
  • The extent of any bone augmentation required can be determined with three-dimensional diagnostics even before the procedure.
  • Smaller defects are compensated with bone replacement material, often mixed with the patient's own bone chips.
  • For larger defects, the patient's own bone is transplanted in a minimally invasive, microsurgical procedure.
  • Over time the body remodels the replacement material and replaces it with its own bone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can be done if the jawbone is too thin for an implant?
In many cases the bone can then be built up – with bone substitute material, with the patient's own bone or with a combination of both.
Where does the bone come from in a bone graft?
Smaller defects are filled with bone substitute material, to which the patient's own bone chips are often added. For larger defects we transplant the patient's own bone.
Will I know in advance whether I need a bone graft?
Yes. With a three-dimensional scan we determine the width and height of the bone before the implant is placed and discuss the result with you.
Is a bone graft always necessary?
No. Implants can often be placed in a tissue-friendly way without prior grafting. Whether it is needed depends on the findings.