Does bone grafting affect the length of treatment?

If you need bone grafting, it will almost invariably increase the treatment period timescale. However, When successfully applied it will greatly improve the outcome of the implant(s) placed. When used at the front of the mouth it can also allow for creation of far superior aesthetics.

Bone grafting requires a much higher degree of skill from the treatment provider and is far more complex to perform than the placement of the implant itself.

Certain situations require some operators to combine the implant placement with the bone grafting and the placement of a barrier membrane all at the same time.

Whatever the method chosen to improve the bone quality the time, effort and expense is generally well worthwhile.

One-stage Implant
In this procedure the implant is placed into a new, healing or healed extraction site and is visible immediately above the gum after placement. The advantage of this method is that a second surgical stage is not necessary for the implant to be exposed. The implant will usually not be ready to support a tooth for several weeks or months.

Two-stage implant
The implant is placed into a new, healed or healing extraction site and then covered by a layer of gum so that it cannot be seen. This is the first stage. The second stage (weeks or months later) the implant is uncovered and components added, bringing it above the gum ready to begin placing the new tooth.

Same Day Implants
This technique is most often used to treat the lower jaw and requires exhaustive planning before the actual day of surgery. Several implants are installed and a few hours later a complete arch of temporary or permanent teeth can be fixed into place. If temporary teeth are used, these will normally be replaced with a permanent bridge after a suitable healing interval. Not all patients are suitable for this kind of treatment.

Immediate Implant
For this technique a tooth is removed and an implant is placed immediately into the extraction site, Depending on the bone and soft tissue conditions, the implant surgery may be a one-stage or two-stage procedure. Not all patients are suitable for this kind of procedure.