Compare Implant Surgery Options:

Option 1:  Grafted Implant Surgery

Grafted surgery builds up bone in the back of the mouth using a bone substitute or a bone graft.  This requires a separate surgical procedure before the implants can be placed.

For the upper jaw:  Bone grafts are place in the sinuses.  This procedure is called a sinus lift or a sinus graft.  After the grafts have hardened (6 months), the back implants can be placed, along with additional implants to support the front of the bridge.

For the lower jaw:  The procedure is called a block bone graft.

Grafted Implant surgery  (sinus bone grafts in red)

Benefit:

• Final bridge has full 12 teeth

Downside: 

• Bone graft surgery needed​
  
   

 

Option 2:  Standard Implant Surgery 

Standard surgery eliminates the need for bone graft surgery by placing all of the implants toward the front of the mouth where there already is enough bone.  However, the final bridge will only have 10 teeth, not 12 teeth. This is because the back implants will be small or short and cannot support a full 12-tooth bridge. 

	Standard Implant Surgery

Benefit:

• No bone graft surgery
  

Downside: 

• Final bridge has only 10 teeth
  
  
  • back implants are small or short and cannot support a full 12-tooth bridge
    

Option 3:  Angled Implant Surgery

Modified surgery also eliminates the need for bone graft surgery by placing the back implants at a forward angle. in front of the sinus space.  These implant positions also allow the dentist to make a full 12-tooth bridge. Modified surgery is a recent surgical innovation and not every surgeon will have the specialized training to use this procedure.

Angled Implant Surgery

Benefit:  

• No bone graft surgery
  
  
• Final bridge has 12 teeth
  

Downside: 

• Limited availability
              
  

                

Surgical Options Summary:

1.    80-85% of people losing their teeth do not have enough bone in the back of their mouth for implants.

2.    The surgeon has 3 ways to manage this problem.

3.    The treatment selected will determine:

               a.  the amount of implant surgery

               b.  the number of the teeth in the final bridge

Surgery Type	Benefit	Downside
Grafted	12 Tooth Bridge	Bone Graft Surgery
*Standard	No Bone Graft Surgery	10 Tooth Bridge
**Angled	12 Tooth Bridge No Bone Graft Surgery	**Limited     Availability

 *Standard Surgery is the most common type of implant surgery.

**Angled Surgery is a recent surgical development; not every surgeon will have the specialized training needed
   to place the implants in this way.  Angled Surgery is also known as "tilted implant surgery" and is used for the
   "All on 4" Treatment. 

After the implants have been placed,

what kind of temporary teeth will I wear?