The loss of one or more teeth inevitably affects the immediate environment. Adjacent teeth lose their hold, the bone base deteriorates (atrophies) and the thin osseous wall that surrounds and stabilizes each tooth disappears. To anchor a dental implant properly, the alveolar ridge therefore needs to be reconstructed first. Implant placement is then followed by prosthetic measures in form of a crown integrated so well that it is visually impossible to distinguish it from adjacent natural teeth.

Bone reconstruction (or more specifically, bone augmentation) can be done in various ways. For example, it is possible to harvest some bone from a distant part of the jaw – say, the posterior mandible or the chin – and implant it in the missing tooth site. Obviously, however, this creates an additional wound apart from the target site. Moreover, this method requires two interventions: one in which the harvested bone material is fixed in place in the alveolar cavity (tooth socket) using titanium screws; and a second one for removing the screws once the bone graft has grown in. This also needs to be done because the site must be cleared for placing the implant. 

The gentle bone reconstruction method using SonicWeld Rx® Dental spares you both of these inconvenience.