SW3 Dental · King's Road, Chelsea
A thin or shrunken jaw ridge is one of the commonest reasons an implant is described as "not straightforward". This guide sets out how bone is assessed in three dimensions, what grafting involves in broad terms, and the fixed and removable alternatives worth weighing.
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Bone is living tissue that responds to use. The ridge that once held a tooth is maintained by the pressure of chewing travelling through the root. Remove the tooth and, over the following months and years, the body gradually remodels that ridge, so it loses width first and then height. Long-term gum disease, a previous infection, trauma and a denture resting on the gum can all contribute. None of this is a failing on your part; it is simply how the jaw behaves.
Panel one: a resorbed ridge that is too narrow to enclose an implant. Panel two: the ridge after graft material has been placed and has healed into bone. Panel three: an implant, abutment and crown supported by the rebuilt ridge. Illustration only.
A conventional X-ray is a two-dimensional shadow. It hints at height but says little about the thickness of the ridge, which is often where the shortfall lies. A cone beam CT (CBCT) scan gives a cross-sectional view of the jaw, allowing Dr Anti to measure available bone precisely and to map the lower jaw nerve and the floor of the sinus.
Those measurements decide whether an implant can be placed as it is, whether a small amount of bone could be added at the same time, or whether a separate grafting stage would be wiser. You will see the images yourself and have them explained without jargon.
At the time of an extraction, graft material is placed in the socket to reduce the collapse that would otherwise follow. A sensible step when an implant is being considered later.
Discussed case by caseMaterial is added to a ridge that has already narrowed or lowered, restoring enough volume to surround an implant.
Discussed case by caseIn the upper back jaw, the membrane lining the sinus floor is lifted and bone material placed beneath it to gain height.
Discussed case by caseThese descriptions are for orientation only. If extra bone is needed, we explain the options, which may include grafting, and include it in your written quote. Where a particular procedure would be arranged elsewhere, that is made clear from the outset.
"If you've lost bone, implants are off the table." Myth. Bone loss changes the plan, not always the outcome. Grafting or angled implants are often possible.
"Every implant needs a bone graft." Myth. Many people have ample bone, particularly when a tooth has been lost recently.
"A bridge or denture will stop the bone shrinking." Not really. Neither replaces the root, so the ridge beneath can continue to remodel.
Where most or all teeth in a jaw are missing, four implants angled into the firmer bone can carry a fixed arch, frequently without grafting.
From £6,495 per archA fixed solution with no surgery, at the cost of preparing the teeth either side of the gap.
Quoted individuallyThe least invasive starting point. Removable and less stable when eating, but simple and adaptable.
Quoted individuallyDr Antikleia Nalmpanti (GDC No. 200008) has 16 years of experience in private practice, with a special interest in dental implants, full-arch rehabilitation, aesthetic dentistry and prosthetics. Meet the team.
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Mild to moderate swelling and tenderness for a few days is typical and usually responds to everyday painkillers. The procedure itself is carried out under local anaesthetic. We do not offer sedation.
Options include your own bone, processed donor or animal-derived bone, and synthetic substitutes. The choice depends on the site and amount needed, and Dr Anti will explain her reasoning.
The graft sits under the gum and is not visible. For a front tooth, a temporary can usually be arranged so you are not left with an obvious gap during healing.
It can be. Preserving the ridge at the time of extraction keeps more options open. It is worth raising before the tooth is removed.
Yes. 0% finance through Tabeo is available, subject to status, and any grafting appears clearly in your written quote.
Related: Dental implants · Single tooth implants · All-on-4 · Implant-retained dentures · Implant costs · Fees
At 295 King's Road, Chelsea. Find out whether your bone is ready for an implant, and explore bridges and dentures as well.
SW3 Dental is part of a group of three practices with Waterloo Dental & Orthodontics (SE1) and Croydon Dental Practice & Addiscombe Orthodontics (CR0).
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