When teeth are lost , the jaw bone shrinks rapidly. Most of these changes occur in the first 3 months . In fact within the first year , 50 % of the jaw bone is lost and by the 3rd year the shrinkage is as much as 40 to 60 %.
The volume and quality of bone available for dental implants is important. Recently, with advances in surgical techniques and bone graft materials , we now have the ability to grow bone . As a result of bone grafting for dental implants, many patients with inadequate jaw bone can now be restored to function and aesthetics with dental implants.
