Dental implants when you don't have enough bone
Not every mouth is ready for dental implants on day one. Sometimes the bone isn’t there. Sometimes the gum isn’t healthy enough. Sometimes there’s a failing tooth that has to come out first. The work that gets you to the point of being implant-ready is called implant preparation. If you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone for dental implants in Colchester, that doesn’t necessarily mean the answer is no. It often means the answer is “yes, after some prep work first”.
Want an affordable way to upgrade your look?
What implant preparation actually involves.
The most common prep work we see:
Bone grafting for adding bone where there isn't enough for an implant to anchor properly.
Sinus lift for raising the floor of the sinus to make room for implants in the upper back jaw.
Ridge augmentation for rebuilding a narrow or shrunken jaw ridge.
Gum grafting for adding healthy gum tissue around an implant site for better stability and aesthetics.
Tooth extraction with implant for removing a failing tooth and placing an implant in the same socket, in one appointment.
Not everyone needs all of this. Some patients need bone grafting alone. Some need a sinus lift before a single implant. Most cases need one or two of these procedures, not all five, and grafting can often be done alongside extractions and implant placement to reduce treatment time. Your first step is a free CT scan so Dr Andrew Fennell can see exactly what state your bone and gum are in.
When you do need bone work.
The amount and quality of bone in your jaw decides whether an implant can be placed safely. If you’ve lost teeth and waited, the bone shrinks. If you’ve had gum disease, the bone can resorb. If your teeth were extracted years ago, the bone in that area is often thinner than it once was. Bone grafting and sinus lifts solve these problems. The bone is rebuilt and given time to integrate. Where conditions are favourable, the implants are placed at the same time. For severe bone loss, the grafting is stage one and the implants are placed some months later at stage two, though this is rare. The decision depends on what the CT scan shows.
Why Love Implants for implant preparation.
It's all done in-house. Andrew handles the prep work and the implant placement himself. You're not referred to a different practice for the bone work and then sent back for implants. One dentist, one clinic, one plan.
Free CT scan and free consultation. Both included. You'll know exactly what state your jaw is in and what work is needed before you commit to anything.
20 years of complex implant work. Andrew has placed over 7,000 implants, many in patients with bone loss, missing ridges or sinus issues. He's seen the unusual anatomy and knows what's possible.
Half the UK average price. Bone grafting and sinus lifts can be expensive at private clinics. Andrew's pricing is roughly half the UK average, with the same materials and the same standards.
Meet your LOVE implantologist
Dr. Andrew Fennell
One of the UK’s most respected implant dentists. With over two decades of experience and thousands of successful placements, he is known for his advanced technique and approachable manner.
Currently also the lead Implantologist at Winning Smiles, Andrew is committed to making dental implants affordable and accessible without compromising on quality.
What happens next.
Book a free consultation with Andrew. He’ll discuss what you want, do a clinical assessment, and tell you in plain English whether you’re likely to need prep work. The free CT scan happens next, and you’ll get a clear treatment plan with the cost laid out before you decide. If implants aren’t the right answer for your case, he’ll tell you that too.
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* dependent on clinical situation, bone volume, density and bite force
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