Video answer
What happens after you lose a tooth?
Dr Prinja explains tooth loss and the importance of preserving bone and assessing replacement options. An implant is one option, not an automatic first choice.
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Dental bone grafting in London
Dental bone grafting adds graft material to the jaw to rebuild bone volume, so that an implant can be placed in the correct position with adequate support.
At a glance
- Appointment
- 45–90 minutes
- Visits
- Usually combined with assessment and implant stages
- Results
- Healing measured in months, not weeks
- Longevity
- Permanent once integrated
- Reversibility
- Surgical and irreversible
- Anaesthetic
- Local anaesthetic; sedation available
Bone grafting starts from £500 and is costed as part of the overall implant plan, alongside a CBCT scan at £110 for a single arch or £198 for both.
Book a consultationAssessment and diagnosis before any cosmetic treatment
Patient guides
The short answer: Bone grafting
Dental bone grafting adds graft material to the jaw to rebuild bone volume, so that an implant can be placed in the correct position with adequate support.
Bone grafting is planned and provided by Dr Vikas Prinja at Apple Dental Studios, 106 Marsh Road, Pinner, with patients travelling from across North West London. If you are looking for a dentist in Pinner, that page sets out how consultations, written plans and fees work here.
Compare your options
Why bone grafting rather than something else?
You are reading
Bone grafting
The option described on this page.
Why it is done
Dental implants
Grafting is not a treatment in isolation — it exists to make implant placement possible or more predictable.
Avoids surgery
Crowns & bridges
A bridge or denture replaces the tooth without surgery, and may be appropriate where grafting is not wanted or not indicated.
Who is suitable for bone grafting?
- Patients with insufficient bone width or height for an implant
- Sites where a tooth has been missing for a long period
- Preservation of a socket at the time of extraction
What problems does bone grafting solve?
- Bone loss after tooth loss
- Thin ridges
- Sinus proximity in the upper jaw
What happens at the bone grafting assessment?
- CBCT imaging
- Assessment of gum tissue quality
- Medical history and healing risk factors
Vikas explains
Watch: Dr Prinja explains
A concise video explanation, supported by the written guidance on this page.
How does bone grafting work?
- 01
Planning
The volume and type of graft required is determined from imaging.
- 02
Grafting
Graft material is placed and protected, sometimes alongside implant placement.
- 03
Healing
Healing time varies with the size of the graft.
- 04
Implant placement
The implant is placed once the site is stable.
What are the benefits?
- Enables implant treatment where it would otherwise not be possible
- Improves long-term implant position and appearance
What are the limitations?
- Extends overall treatment time
- Not every site can be rebuilt predictably
What are the risks of bone grafting?
- Infection
- Partial graft resorption
- Swelling and bruising
- Sinus complications in upper jaw procedures
What are the alternatives to bone grafting?
- Shorter or narrower implants
- Bridge or denture
- No replacement
How long does bone grafting last?
Integrated grafted bone is maintained by the implant it supports and by ongoing maintenance.
How is bone grafting maintained?
- Post-operative instructions
- Hygiene appointments
- Long-term implant reviews
How much does bone grafting cost in London?
From £500Guide fee
Bone grafting starts from £500 and is costed as part of the overall implant plan, alongside a CBCT scan at £110 for a single arch or £198 for both.
A written plan with itemised fees is provided after assessment, before any treatment is agreed. See the full fee guide.
Explore the dental glossary for plain-language definitions of the clinical terms used here.
Clinical transparency
Evidence and clinical references
- General Dental Council — Standards for the Dental Team
General Dental Council
- NICE guidance on dental care and recall intervals
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Read next
Guides and articles on bone grafting
Written by Dr Vikas Prinja for patients considering or already having this treatment.
Common questions
Bone grafting: common questions
Will I need a bone graft before a dental implant?
Not everyone needs a bone graft. CBCT imaging shows whether there is enough bone in a safe and restorative position; if not, grafting or an alternative replacement can be discussed.
How long does a bone graft take to heal?
Healing time depends on the size and type of graft, but several months are usually allowed before an implant is placed or restored. Progress is checked clinically and, where needed, with repeat imaging.
What are the risks of bone grafting?
Risks include swelling, bruising, infection, graft exposure or incomplete bone formation, and site-specific risks such as sinus membrane perforation in upper jaw cases. These are assessed and explained in writing before consent.
What is the aftercare after a bone graft?
Expect swelling for a few days, a soft diet for the period advised, and careful cleaning away from the surgical site using any prescribed rinse. Smoking materially impairs healing. Reviews check the site before the implant stage is planned.
What are the alternatives to a bone graft?
Depending on the site, options can include placing a shorter or narrower implant, angling the implant to use available bone, or restoring the gap with a bridge or denture instead. Where bone volume is adequate, no graft is needed. The options are set out after 3D imaging.
How much do dental implants cost?
Dental implants start from £2,900 at this practice. The final fee depends on whether grafting is needed, the number of implants and the restoration. A written quotation is provided after examination and a CBCT scan.
Clinical authorship
Written and reviewed by Dr Vikas Prinja
The London Dentist. Cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry in London.
Clinically reviewed Updated
About Dr Vikas PrinjaHow this fits together
Consider alongside
How this treatment relates to the others, and why each relationship exists.
Component of
Dental implants
Grafting is not a treatment in isolation — it exists to make implant placement possible or more predictable.
Alternative tooth replacement
Crowns & bridges
A bridge or denture replaces the tooth without surgery, and may be appropriate where grafting is not wanted or not indicated.
Replace
Dental implants
A dental implant is a titanium or ceramic fixture placed into the jawbone to support a crown, bridge or denture, replacing the root of a missing tooth.
Restore
Restorative dentistry
Restorative dentistry repairs and rebuilds damaged, worn or missing teeth — using fillings, onlays, crowns, bridges or implants — with the aim of restoring function while preserving as much natural tooth as possible.
Restore
Crowns & bridges
A crown is a laboratory-made restoration that covers a damaged tooth to restore its shape and strength; a bridge uses one or more crowns to replace an adjacent missing tooth.
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