Check-up and Digital Imaging
A six-monthly examination: intraoral check, digital X-ray if needed and a written summary of the day. A record is kept even when nothing is found; the next check-up is compared against it.
DetailsBone shrinks over the years after a tooth is removed; if enough time has passed, the volume an implant needs may no longer be there. Grafting rebuilds the missing volume. In the back of the upper jaw the sinus cavity also drops down, so its floor may need raising — that is sinus lifting.
The process
- CT scan: the height and width of the bone are measured in millimetres
- Deciding whether a graft is needed and by which method
- Surgery; in some cases the implant can be placed in the same session
- Healing — three to six months depending on site and method
- A check scan, then on to the implant stage
Why it is not always needed
If there is enough bone, no graft is done. That decision is made on the scan, not by eye; the measurement is shown to you on screen along with the reason. Smoking is the single factor that affects healing most here.
This page is general information and does not replace a dental examination. Whether the treatment suits you, and the method and duration, are decided only after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.
After treatment
Cold compresses for the first 48 hours, no forceful nose-blowing (important after a sinus lift), and the prescribed medication taken as directed. Sutures out after a week.
The information on this page is for general guidance and does not replace a dental examination. Treatment decisions are made after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.