When a tooth is removed the empty socket begins to collapse and the body’s natural process of bone re-absorption begins. This proceeds at different rates for each person and, if left unattended, will mean that there is not enough remaining bone for an implant to be inserted. As dental implants need a solid base for their titanium root, an implant cannot be placed if there is insufficient bone.
If a dental implant is necessary for your individual circumstances, we can carry out ridge augmentation to preserve the amount of bone that you have and to stop the gum line from sinking. This ridge augmentation is a very common procedure and can help improve the chances of success for a dental implant by providing stronger support.
Once a tooth is lost, the bone and gum will begin to recede. If you later decide to have an Implant fitted it may mean that the Implant would sit too high or the Crown would sit too low for your ‘bite’. A material can be inserted into the cavity to encourage bone re-growth. Over time, this will provide a sufficient amount of bone to support the Implant.
