Bone Grafting
Bone grafting in Alanya — rebuilding bone volume before implant placement
One of the most common reasons patients are refused or delayed for implants is insufficient bone volume or quality at the intended implant site. Bone is lost after tooth extraction, from wearing dentures over a long period, as a result of periodontitis or following trauma. Bone grafting is a procedure that restores lost volume and creates the conditions for stable implant integration.
On this page we cover: when bone grafting is necessary, which materials are used, how the most common variants are carried out, and what this means practically for a patient — particularly one planning treatment in Alanya.
Why bone is lost
Alveolar bone — the part of the jaw that holds tooth roots — exists only as long as the teeth are there. After extraction, the bone at that site begins to resorb: the body no longer receives loading signals from the missing root and gradually removes the tissue. The process is most active in the first 3–6 months after extraction but continues for years.
Clinical data shows that alveolar ridge width decreases by an average of 25% in the first year after extraction and by 40–60% over three years. This means the longer a patient delays implantation, the higher the probability that insufficient bone will remain by the time of surgery.
- Periodontitis — inflammatory disease that destroys bone around tooth roots
- Trauma — jaw impact or fracture
- Cysts and tumours — can destroy bone walls
- Anatomical factors — thin alveolar ridge or a sinus floor positioned close to the crest
- Long-term denture wear — pressure from the denture accelerates bone resorption
Types of bone grafting
Guided bone regeneration (GBR)
The most widely used technique. Bone material is placed into the defect area and covered with a barrier membrane. The membrane prevents soft tissue from growing into the regeneration zone and creates space for new bone. After 4–9 months, the graft material is replaced by the patient’s own bone.
GBR can be performed simultaneously with implant placement or as a separate preparatory step — depending on the defect volume and achievable primary stability.
Sinus lift (elevation of the sinus floor)
A procedure specific to the upper jaw in the molar region. The maxillary sinus often lies close to the alveolar crest — particularly after tooth loss. In these cases the bone height beneath the sinus is insufficient for a standard-length implant.
In a sinus lift, the sinus floor is carefully elevated upward and the resulting space filled with bone material. Two techniques: open sinus lift (via a lateral window) for significant deficiency, and closed sinus lift (through the implant site) for minor deficiency — allows simultaneous implant placement.
Autograft (patient’s own bone)
The most biologically active material is the patient’s own bone, harvested from other sites: chin area, mandibular ramus, rarely the iliac crest. Autologous bone contains living osteoblasts that directly participate in bone formation. Disadvantage: additional surgery at the donor site. Used for large defects.
Bone graft materials
Material type | Description and application |
Autograft | Patient’s own bone. Highest biological activity. Requires a donor site procedure. |
Allograft (human) | Donated human bone, specially processed. Good osteoconduction, no additional surgery. |
Xenograft (animal) | Usually bovine bone (Bio-Oss). Most extensively studied substitute. Slow resorption, long-term volume preservation. |
Synthetic materials | Hydroxyapatite, β-TCP and combinations. No biological risk, varying resorption rates. |
Combinations | Blends of materials for optimal regeneration and volume maintenance. |
When bone grafting is not required
- Flapless implantation with angled implants — uses available bone where it is sufficient
- All-on-4 and All-on-6 — specifically designed for patients with bone atrophy
- Short and narrow implants — modern systems for limited bone volume
- Minor defect addressed simultaneously with implantation — small graft during the main procedure
Whether bone grafting is needed can only be determined from a 3D CT scan (CBCT). A two-dimensional X-ray does not provide sufficient information for this decision.
Timeframes
Procedure | Approximate time to implant placement |
Small GBR simultaneous with implant | No separate waiting — implant placed immediately |
GBR as a separate step | 4–6 months to implant placement |
Closed sinus lift with simultaneous implantation | Standard osseointegration — 3–4 months |
Open sinus lift | 6–9 months to implant placement |
Autologous bone block | 4–6 months to implant placement |
Bone grafting in Alanya: practical information
For patients travelling from abroad, bone grafting is not an obstacle but an additional step. Many patients who were told at home that they need grafting and that it is expensive have it done in Alanya as part of a comprehensive treatment plan at considerably lower cost.
The important thing is a realistic timeline. Send us a 3D CT scan or a panoramic X-ray — we can assess in advance whether grafting is needed and how it fits into the overall treatment plan.
The first days after bone grafting
- Swelling in the first 3–5 days — normal and expected, particularly pronounced after a sinus lift
- Moderate soreness — well managed with standard pain relief
- After sinus lift: no blowing the nose, no sneezing with the mouth closed, no drinking straws for 2–3 weeks
- Soft diet for 2 weeks
- Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed
- No smoking for at least 4 weeks — nicotine critically disrupts blood supply to the regeneration zone
