Patients interested in dental implants can learn from this video the terminology of the different parts and pieces. They can also get a general idea how dental implants are placed and restored in the mouth.

The gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. Using various techniques, bone graft materials can be added to the ridge defect to stimulate the growth of jaw bone width and height so a dental implant can be inserted.

A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw is typically deficient in adequate bone height as a result of the maxillary sinus.  A sinus lift procedure enables us to gain enough bone to place a dental implant by moving the base of the sinus upward to add bone graft materials.  The bone graft materials stimulate the growth of bone so there will be adequate space for a dental implant.

This bone grafting technique is performed when a tooth is extracted and takes advantage of the normal healing process. When a tooth is removed the body does not necessarily replace the tooth area with adequate bone for a future dental implant. So, a bone graft using human cadaver or synthetic bone materials can promote the body to grow additional bone so that a dental implant can be placed into the site at a later date.