Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

Adding bone so a jaw can support a dental implant.

Bone Grafting at St Ives Smiles Dentistry

A dental implant needs enough surrounding bone to hold it securely in place. When there isn’t enough, a bone graft builds up the volume first, using the patient’s own bone, biomaterials, or a combination, depending on the case.

Dr Hockey assesses whether a graft is needed as part of planning your implant, using 3D imaging to check the available bone at St Ives Smiles Dentistry. Not every implant needs one.

At a glance

What it does: Builds up bone volume so a jaw can support a dental implant
Who it’s for: Patients whose jaw doesn’t have enough natural bone to hold an implant on its own
What’s used: Your own bone, biomaterials, or a combination, depending on the case
Cost: Starts from $1,000

What Is Bone Grafting for a Dental Implant?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that builds up bone volume in a jaw before or alongside dental implant placement, using the patient's own bone, biomaterials, or both, depending on the case. Dental implants need enough surrounding bone to be held securely in place. For some patients, that bone isn't there in sufficient quantity, and implant treatment wouldn't be an option without first augmenting it.

A variety of grafting materials and surgical techniques exist for this purpose. The right approach depends on your case, which Dr Hockey assesses individually. Bone grafting is a broader term than sinus lift, which is one specific type of graft used only at the back of the upper jaw. See our sinus lift page for that case.

Do I Need a Bone Graft to Get a Dental Implant?

Not every implant patient needs a bone graft. Whether you do depends on how much bone is already at the site, something your dentist assesses as part of implant planning. Some patients have ample bone and go straight to implant placement; for others, augmentation comes first because the existing bone volume wouldn't otherwise hold an implant securely.

Because a range of grafting materials and techniques exist, the approach used, if one is needed at all, is decided case by case rather than from a single default protocol. This is a question best answered at an implant consultation, not from a general description like this one.

Is a Bone Graft Always Necessary?

A bone graft isn't automatically required just because jaw bone is limited. In some cases, particularly in the lower jaw, a shorter implant can be used instead of grafting, and Dr Hockey works out what suits you.

There's no universal rule that applies to every jaw. Whether a graft, a short implant, or another approach suits your case is something Dr Hockey works out from your own anatomy and treatment goals, not from a standard protocol applied to everyone.

Who performs this

Who Performs Bone Grafting at St Ives Smiles Dentistry?

Dr Jeremy Hockey performs bone grafting at St Ives Smiles. He is a general dentist who holds FICOI, Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, a fellowship reflecting additional training in implant-related dentistry.

Every graft procedure starts with an individual assessment of your jaw bone, medical history, and treatment goals, before Dr Hockey recommends a plan.

Is Bone Grafting Surgery? What Are the Risks?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure, and like any oral surgery it carries some risk, such as swelling, discomfort or infection at the site. Dr Hockey talks through the risks that apply to your case, and what to expect in recovery, before you decide whether to go ahead.

3D imaging

Planning a Bone Graft with 3D Imaging

Bone grafting is typically planned with imaging that shows the jaw in three dimensions, rather than a flat X-ray, when that level of detail is useful for your case. Because St Ives Smiles has an in-house CBCT (cone beam CT) scanner, Dr Hockey can take a 3D scan and view the available bone right there in your appointment. That means you get a clear picture of whether a graft is needed, and what it would involve, in the same visit, rather than waiting on a scan from an outside clinic. Our dental technology page explains CBCT and the other imaging tools used across the practice in more detail.

In-house 3D CBCT and OPG dental imaging machine at St Ives Smiles Dentistry

Frequently Asked Questions

What does bone grafting cost at St Ives Smiles?

Bone grafting at St Ives Smiles starts from $1,000. An implant consultation, where Dr Hockey assesses whether you need a graft, starts from $360, and a single dental implant, placed separately once any grafting has healed, starts from $6,000.

Which bone graft material or technique will be used?

Dr Hockey selects the material and technique that suit your bone and treatment plan, and explains the approach he recommends at your consultation.

What happens after a bone graft?

After a bone graft, the site needs time to heal and integrate with your existing bone before an implant can be placed. There isn't a single published timeline that applies to every graft, since healing depends on the graft type, the site, and individual factors, so this is something Dr Hockey talks through at your consultation rather than something to assume in advance.

How is bone grafting different from a sinus lift?

A sinus lift is one specific type of bone graft, limited to the back of the upper jaw where the maxillary sinus sits. Bone grafting is the broader term, covering augmentation anywhere else in the jaw that needs it. See our sinus lift page for that specific case.

Book a Consultation

If you've been told you might need more bone before an implant, the next step is an individual assessment with Dr Hockey. Dental implants at St Ives Smiles start with exactly this kind of planning, whether or not grafting turns out to be part of your treatment.

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