Maisy,

The upper and lower front bone is normally thinner than other areas of the mouth. If there had been an infection in that upper area or the extracted tooth had been root canaled, then that area of bone would be less than optimal for a dental implant.

#1: Placing a bone graft in the extraction site of an upper front tooth is risky even when the bone is healthy due to the fragility of that area of bone. When the bone is less than healthy, the risk of graft or implant failure is increased.
Bone graft material requires a healthy opening of bone to sit in while your own bone cells stimulate the growth of new bone, which then integrate with the graft. That growth process is what solidifies the bone making it dense enough to place a dental implant. A dental implant requires solid healthy bone to be stable.

#2: Placing a bone graft in that area, given the fragility of the bone, usually requires at least 6 months of healing time before the placement of an implant.

It is possible that he went in too soon OR when he opened it up, he could see that the graft was just sitting there with nothing happening.

Harvesting your own bone to be used as the graft may help stimulate the growth of new bone cells in that area because it would recognize it. However, if that area or the adjacent areas of bone are not healthy, the risk of failure even with your own bone would be increased.

For a variety of reasons, certain things can reduce the rate or inhibit the proper formation of bone cells needed to grow new healthy bone.

Some of those things are:
Medications: antidepressants/anti anxiety meds/antihistamines/hormonal replacements/osteoporosis meds/seizure meds.....

Lifestyle habits: daily smoking and drinking alcohol, highly processed diet, lack of proper hydration, a bruxism habit, poor oral hygiene ...

Compromised health: infection, auto immune disorders, nutrient deficiencies, previous chemo or radiation therapy....

All of those things need to be taken into consideration every time a bone graft or a dental implant is to be considered a dental option.

I hope this information gives you some clarity as to just how diverse the situation may be and perhaps now you can have a more in depth discussion with your oral surgeon before you allow him to harvest bone from you.

I wish you all the best.

Bryanna






TE=Maisy;1263592]Three months ago i had a front tooth extracted and cadaver bone put into the socket i preparation for an implant. Today i returned and the surgeon cut open my gum to insert the titanium rod only to say there was not adequate bone to support it. He said i would need a second graft preferrably of my own bone in order to support an implant. Is this common? I dont want to go thru this again if for some reason my bone does not grow adequately. Does anyone have advice or a simklar story? I am a 54 year old female. No health issues S far as i know.[/QUOTE]