Bone grafting for dental implants
in London
Bone augmentation is necessary in cases where the volume of the jawbone is not sufficient for an implant. It can be performed on both the upper and lower jaw and ensures that dental implants can be securely anchored. We often mix the patient’s bone with an artificial bone to restore the original contour of the jawbone and embed the implant for long term success.
Bone grafting (bone augmentation) is the transfer of bone tissue from another location within the body (autogenous bone), the insertion of a natural replacement material (allogenic bone) or even the use of a synthetic tissue (artificial, also called xenogenic, bone) to an oral site where it is needed after bone volume loss. It is also possible to blend a patient’s bone with a natural or artificial bone resource to restore the original contour of the jawbone and so prepare for a dental implant.
This surgery can be necessary if an implant is needed but the current volume of your jawbone is not strong enough to support one if fitted. Bone grafting can be performed on the upper or lower jaws and is often conducted on an outpatient basis, under local anaesthetic or light sedation, at our clinic in Wimpole Street, central London.
If comprehensive bone augmentation with bone extraction from the pelvis is advised, please note that this is not conducted under normal sedation in our clinic. Usually, the range of bone grafting procedures offered in our clinic from the straightforward to the more complex is enough to solve 99.9 % of all implant and bone augmentation cases.
Treatment Duration
1+ hours
Price
From £800
Combined Team Experience
50+ years
Recovery Time
7+ days
Our Google Rating
★★★★★ (4.9)
What is bone grafting?
Bone grafting (bone augmentation) is the transfer of bone tissue from another location within the body (autogenous bone), the insertion of a natural replacement material (allogenic bone) or even the use of a synthetic tissue (artificial, also called xenogenic, bone) to an oral site where it is needed after bone volume loss. It is also possible to blend a patient’s bone with a natural or artificial bone resource to restore the original contour of the jawbone and so prepare for a dental implant.
This surgery can be necessary if an implant is needed but the current volume of your jawbone is not strong enough to support one if fitted. Bone grafting can be performed on the upper or lower jaws and is often conducted on an outpatient basis, under local anaesthetic or light sedation, at our clinic in Wimpole Street, central London.
If comprehensive bone augmentation with bone extraction from the pelvis is advised, please note that this is not conducted under normal sedation in our clinic. Usually, the range of bone grafting procedures offered in our clinic from the straightforward to the more complex is enough to solve 99.9 % of all implant and bone augmentation cases.
Who is suitable for bone grafting?
Patients recommended for a dental implant who are in good general and good oral health but require more jawbone support, may present as suitable candidates. Bone grafting for this purpose is needed if there is less than about 2 mm of bone present on all sides of the proposed dental implant site. Bone grafting is vital where the body naturally reduces the bone volume in the jaw area once the tooth is lost and where the implant is now recommended.
Why not contact us today, if you are thinking about this procedure?
| Bone graft | from £800 |
| Block graft | from £1,600 |
| Sinus tap per implant | from £500 |
| Sinus lift (lateral) | from £2,000 |
| Simple implant exposure per implant | from £400 |
| Implant exposure per implant with gingival graft | from £1,200 |
Are you ready to restore your smile?
We recognise that patients are anxious about dental surgery, which is why we’ve invested in our centre of excellence on Wimpole Street. By combining the latest digital dentistry technology and a highly skilled and experienced dental team, you can be confident that you’re in good hands.
Dr. Dejan Dragisic, Mr Abdurahman El-Awa, and Prof. Mehl are highly experienced in bone augmentations, oral surgery and implantology at Wimpole Street Dental Clinic. Book an appointment to see Dr. Dragisic or Prof. Mehl to find out more about bone grafting treatment, today.
Meet your dentists specialising in Bone Grafting…
- We have over 75+ years of combined dentistry experience across our specialist team.
- 10,000+ treatments performed and counting.
- We are leaders in the dental industry – we regularly teach, lecture and publish our research work internationally.
Our Reviews
Safe, experienced and trusted bone grafting techniques
Why is Wimpole Street Dental Clinic best for bone grafting in London?
We believe we offer the perfect balance of location, professional expertise and digitally enabled dentistry on an in-house basis, should you need our bone grafting techniques to restore your oral health. We are delighted to have here Dr. Dejan Dragisic and Prof. Mehl, perform bone augmentation surgery at our clinic. Their clinical expertise in Oral Surgery and Implantology is further complemented by their proficiency in all aspects of Oral Medicine.
We genuinely appreciate that the decision to proceed with a dental implant is one to consider and should you need bone augmentation in order for the implant to succeed, you may need more time, information and reassurance that you have chosen the right dental clinic to perform this surgery. Trust that we have all the resources on hand to meet and even exceed your care expectations.
From the moment you contact us to your first consultation and onto your first surgical appointment, our digital workflow principles mean every expert involved is aware of your exact case. Plus, we confidently employ ultrasound-driven bone surgery (or Piezoelectric surgery) to work precisely, effectively and efficiently to deliver with the utmost care the bone augmentation you need.
Before & afters – bone grafting
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting procedures at Wimpole Street Dental Clinic
Bone grafting techniques currently available at Wimpole Street Dental Clinic:
Small bone augmentation around immediate dental implants – when a tooth is removed and the implant is placed directly into the extraction socket a small gap between the socket and the implant is left due to incongruence between a triangular or rectangular shape of the extraction socket and the round implant. This gap is filled with autogenous (from the patient) or allogenous bone. The bone grafting material is mostly of bovine or porcine origin (e.g. Bio-Oss or MinerOss) and is covered by a collagen membrane equally of bovine or porcine origin (e.g. Bio-Gide or MemLok membranes).
Small bone augmentation around dental implants – is applied when periodontal or root canal inflammation around the jawline is eating away some of the bone originally supporting the affected tooth. This can be done simultaneously with implant placement. Usually, this graft needs to heal 3-4 months as the artificial bone regeneration material needs to convert to bone tissue. Once healed, the final custom-made crown can be fitted to the dental implant.
Bone augmentation with the use of artificial material only for denture wearers – for patients wearing dentures, for example, where the jawbone volume has reduced considerably, bone augmentation using artificial material can securely anchor dental implants.
Artificial bone is transferred to the site with a membrane covering it. After several months of healing and refraining from excessive chewing at mealtimes even without implants this could help to secure the position of the denture better.
Upper jaw bone construction/Sinus lift – Missing bone in the upper jaw can be compensated for by a minimally invasive procedure before the implants are placed or simultaneously with the implant placement. A small part of the paranasal sinus (maxillary sinus) is filled with bone material (artificial bone). A sufficient layer of bone develops supporting a dental implant. This procedure is known as a sinus lift. A sufficiently wide bone is created for the implantation. The procedure is carried out through the oral cavity and does not leave any external scars. We can offer two types of this technique – an internal sinus lift and an external sinus lift.
With the internal sinus lift, the bone material is introduced through the implant cavity before the implant is placed. Then the implant is screwed in and the bone structure is closed.
With the external sinus lift, a lateral bone window is created in the paranasal sinus. The artificial bone is then placed under the sinus skin through this window. The window is now securely closed with a membrane. Thanks to the external sinus lift, an extensive build-up of bones in the upper jaw can also be carried out.
Bone block for bone augmentation – an optimal site to obtain enough good quality bone tissue for this purpose can often be found in the wisdom teeth area located at the rear of the lower jaw. More than one bone block can be potentially extracted from here so as to recreate the natural anatomy of the tooth-carrying bone but please know that the removed bone will grow back completely.
After about four months of recovery time, a dental implant is fitted, which after three months can be uncovered ready to insert your individual ceramic crown(s).
Bone block transplants to create new bone for front teeth – are used after tooth extraction where considerable bone and soft tissue loss has occurred. Enough good quality bone in a block form can be removed from the lower jaw area, shaped and fixed in place at the desired site on the upper jaw for the front teeth.
After a few months of healing, the anchor part of the dental implant is inserted which after three months is uncovered and a fixed temporary tooth placed prior to the completion of the bespoke manufacture of a ceramic crown, fitted and sealed in place with composite resin or dental cement.
Lower jaw bone construction (an autologous bone graft similar to a bone block transplant) – the transfer of bone from the wisdom teeth region to the surgical site. Rest assured that the bone we remove grows back completely plus the transferred bone fuses over time to support the dental implant. If there is a serious lack of jawbone in the lower or upper jaw, this can be compensated for with a bone graft. For this purpose, a suitable piece of own bone (bone block) is removed from the lower jaw (so-called J-graft) and fixed in the area to be treated. The jawbone is now wide enough and the dental implant can be inserted without any problems. As a rule, the required bone is then removed from different parts of the jaw so that no external scars are created. If only a little jawbone is missing, crushed bones can also be used. It is then covered with an artificial membrane.
Extensive bone augmentation – where pronounced bone loss requiring much restructuring of the jawbone prior to the successful insertion of a dental implant is necessary. Removing small parts of the hip bone (the iliac crest) means we can safely gain enough of the body’s natural bone tissue to assist. This pelvic surgery is performed as a minimally invasive technique, under sedation and conducted jointly with a plastic surgeon. The bone pieces taken from the iliac crest are attached to the jawbone with small, titanium screws. Each bone graft is completely covered with a membrane to ensure no gum tissue grows instead. After several months of recovery time, the dental implants are fitted into the newly grown bone now offering the necessary support. This technique is extremely rarely used as bone regeneration as even ridge augmentations can be performed using block grafts thus rendering this rather extensive surgery obsolete.
Frequently asked questions
What should I expect after bone graft surgery?
You may have some pain or discomfort after surgery which can be expertly managed with medication and you may be prescribed some antibiotics to guard against potential infection of the surgical site, too. You may have some swelling, which can also be managed with medication and/or ice to reduce inflammation.
Maintain good general and oral health and refrain from eating foods that demand extensive chewing or are presented at extremely high or cold temperatures to offer your mouth both time to heal and for you to recover your well-being comfortably.
Can general dentists perform bone grafts?
It is possible for a general dentist to perform a straightforward bone graft procedure in the event of a tooth extraction, for example, but it is more usual for a dental surgeon to perform more complex bone graft or bone augmentation techniques.
Why not place your trust in the hands of one of our specialist teams? Our team of experts within the fields of Oral Surgery, Implantology and Oral Medicine are well placed to achieve the best possible clinical results for you and for your smile.
How long does bone augmentation take to heal?
Bone whether natural or artificial is a tissue in the body which requires significant and gradual healing time post-treatment or time to bond, respectively. We advise approximately 4-6 months is the period needed. Your dentist can advise on all aspects of aftercare and recovery at consultation.
How long is there between a bone graft and a dental implant?
A bone graft is a surgery requiring significant healing time. We advise approximately 4-6 months is the time needed between receiving a bone graft and a dental implant. Ask your dentist during your consultation to advise you on all aspects of your aftercare.
Is a bone graft necessary for dental implants?
The necessity for a bone graft prior to receiving a dental implant, centres on both the strength and the volume of the jawbone area where it is to be fitted and may not be a pre-requisite in every case. We advise bone grafting for this purpose is needed if there is less than approximately 2mm of bone present on all sides of the proposed dental implant site.
How long does dental bone graft surgery take?
Bone graft surgery can often be conducted on an outpatient basis in just a couple of hours, under local anaesthetic or light sedation at our clinic. For advice on a more precise likely duration of your own procedure, please ask your dentist during consultation.
Related Treatments
All On 4 Dental Implants
Immediate Implants
Oral Surgery
Gum Correction
When did we last update this page?
Our expert team continually update and research the latest news and techniques in dentistry, as such we regularly update our pages and have these clinically reviewed.
Current Version
July 21st 2023
- Added “when did we last update this page” and author biography to the page.
Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl
Medically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa
Previous Versions
October 2nd 2022
- Page redesigned and updated to reflect change in address.
Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl
Medically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa
30th August 2021
- Original content created.
Written by: Prof Dr Christian Mehl
Medically reviewed by: Dr Raul Costa
Wimpole St Dental Clinic has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Mehl C, Kern M, Meinke N, Açil Y, Bähr T, Wiltfang J, Gaßling V. Can one-wall bone defects be augmented with xenogenic bone grafting material alone? J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2016 Sep;44(9):1137-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2016.04.022. Epub 2016 Apr 22. PMID: 27530667.
- Lin J, Shao J, Juan L, Yu W, Song X, Liu P, Weng W, Xu J, Mehl C. Enhancing bone regeneration by combining mesenchymal stem cell sheets with β-TCP/COL-I scaffolds. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2018 Jul;106(5):2037-2045. doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.34003. Epub 2017 Nov 3. PMID: 29098765.
- Beck-Broichsitter BE, Garling A, Koehne T, Barvencik F, Smeets R, Mehl C, Jeschke A, Wiltfang J, Becker ST. 3D-tracking the regenerative potential of the mandible with micro-CTs. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015 Mar;19(1):29-35. doi: 10.1007/s10006-014-0443-8. Epub 2014 Feb 28. PMID: 24577628.
- Li J, Lin J, Yu W, Song X, Hu Q, Xu JH, Wang H, Mehl C. BMP-2 plasmid DNA-loaded chitosan films – A new strategy for bone engineering. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2017 Dec;45(12):2084-2091. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2017.10.005. Epub 2017 Oct 14. PMID: 29126771.
