This clinic
01Point Cook
Address220 Point Cook Road, Point Cook VIC 3030
Phone(03) 8338 1515
HoursMon–Sat 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Building a stable base for an implant
Bone grafting for dental implants in Point Cook: when extra support is needed.
A bone graft adds material to the jaw where there isn't enough bone to hold an implant firmly. Plenty of implants never need one. If grafting has been mentioned, it usually means the site has thinned since the tooth was lost, and our Point Cook team can explain why and what it involves.
A graft restores volume where the jaw has thinned
Why bone matters
Why would an implant need more bone?
An implant does the job of a tooth root, so it needs enough healthy bone around it to stay firm. Once a tooth is gone, the jawbone that held it no longer gets the same everyday stimulation and can slowly shrink in height and width.
Gum disease, an infection, an injury or a difficult extraction can take bone away as well. The longer a gap has been left, the more likely the site has changed.
When there isn't enough bone for the implant being planned, a graft rebuilds the area first. Your dentist will show you what the examination found at your site and whether grafting is the right way to deal with it.
Where grafting comes up
Three situations where it's often discussed.
These are common scenarios, not a diagnosis. Whether your own site needs a graft depends on your examination.
A tooth that's been missing for years
- —Bone under an old gap may have narrowed or lost height.
- —A small graft can sometimes go in at the same visit as the implant.
- —Larger defects may be grafted first and left to heal.
A tooth that's about to come out
- —Graft material can be placed in the socket straight after the extraction.
- —This is called socket or ridge preservation.
- —It helps keep the shape of the jaw for a future implant.
Several teeth or a full arch
- —Bone levels can vary a lot from one planned implant position to the next.
- —Some full-arch designs angle implants to make use of the bone that's there.
- —Your dentist will point out which areas, if any, need building up.
Whether you need a graft, how large it is and how long it takes to heal all vary from person to person.
Graft materials
What is a bone graft made of?
Graft material can come from a few places: a little of your own bone, usually from nearby in the mouth; processed donor bone; processed animal bone; or a synthetic substitute. Each acts as a scaffold that your body gradually replaces with its own bone.
Your dentist will tell you which material they suggest for your site and why, so you can ask questions before agreeing to anything.
1
Examination
Your dentist checks the site, your gums and your general health, and may take X-rays to see how much bone is there.
2
Placing the graft
Under local anaesthetic the gum is opened, the graft material is placed, often under a protective membrane, and the gum is stitched closed.
3
Healing
Mild swelling and tenderness for a few days are common. The graft then needs time, often several months, to mature into firm bone.
4
Implant placement
Once the site has healed, the implant is placed into the new bone. With smaller grafts, graft and implant are sometimes placed together.
Ask for a written plan that sets out each stage, its fee and the alternatives.
A sinus lift adds bone height under the sinus
Upper back teeth
Upper back jaw? It may be a sinus lift instead.
Above the upper back teeth sits the maxillary sinus, an air space inside the cheekbone. When a molar is lost, the sinus can drop lower and leave only a thin layer of bone beneath it.
A sinus lift is a specialised graft that gently raises the sinus floor to make room for new bone. Read how a sinus lift works →
Your dentist will explain whether the sinus affects your implant plan.
Fees and payment
What does bone grafting cost?
Grafting fees depend on the size of the area, the material and whether it's done on its own or alongside the implant. Ask for any grafting to be itemised in your written treatment plan so you can see the full cost before deciding.
For context, a single implant with a crown starts from $5,000 at Magical Smiles, before any grafting. At Point Cook you can claim eligible health fund extras on the spot with HICAPS, or spread costs with Afterpay, Zip Pay, Humm or SuperCare.
Curious what repayments could look like? Open the repayment estimator →
Sample figures only. The estimator is not a quote, a lending offer or a credit decision.
We accept
Bone grafting questions
What people ask about bone grafts.
A dental bone graft adds bone or bone-like material to the jaw where there isn't enough to support an implant. Over the following months your body replaces it with its own bone, creating a firmer base.
No. Many implants are placed without grafting. A graft is usually considered when the jaw has thinned after tooth loss, gum disease or injury, and your dentist confirms it after examining the site.
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards, swelling and tenderness for a few days are common and are usually eased with simple pain relief and the aftercare your dentist gives you.
Yes. A sinus lift is a bone graft for the upper back jaw, placed under the sinus floor to add height where the bone is thin.
Magical Smiles Point Cook is at 220 Point Cook Road, Point Cook VIC 3030. Call (03) 8338 1515 or book online to talk through your implant options.
Not sure if you need a graft?
Get a clear answer about your bone.
Our Point Cook team can examine the site, explain whether grafting is needed and set out the stages and costs before you decide.
Grafting is one step in a wider plan. See how it fits with a single tooth implant, multiple tooth implants or a full-arch All-on-X bridge, or start from the dental implants overview.