Tooth loss due to jaw infections, dental decay, or traumatic injury is a problem that many people experience. Compared to dentures and bridges, dental implant treatment is the standard of care to replace missing teeth. Dr. Cameron Lee is a leading expert in implant surgery in Hawaii and has over 30 years of surgical experience as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Dental Implants

Implants are surgically placed in the jawbone and provide a strong foundation for the artificial tooth that is attached to the implant by the patient’s family dentist. Collaborating with the patient’s family dentist, Dr. Cameron Lee will surgically place the dental implants in the jaw in preparation for attachment of the artificial teeth by the patient’s dentist.

Bone Graft

When there is insufficient bone volume to place implants in the jaw, bone grafting will increase the amount of bone volume. To correct a lack of bone volume, besides the patient’s own bone, there are bone graft substitute materials to reconstruct the jawbone. Dr. Lee will describe the options of bone graft material to reconstruct the jaw in preparation for dental implants during the consultation. Dr. Lee is a leading authority in Hawaii on bone biology and bone regeneration having obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree with an emphasis on bone biology and different graft materials.

Types of Bone Graft Reconstruction

• When there is insufficient bone height in the back of the upper jaw, bone will need to be added to the sinuses to increase the bone height. This procedure is known as “a sinus lift with bone grafting.”

• When there are plans to replace an extracted tooth with implants, but there is insufficient bone volume the extraction socket will be bone grafted at the time the tooth is extracted. This is known as “socket preservation.”

• If there is insufficient bone volume from front to back of the jaw, the jaw can be reconstructed with blocks of bone harvested from the lower jaw. This technique is known as “block bone grafting.”

Dental Implant Treatment

Bone grafting is not always necessary for implant treatment. Dr. Cameron Lee will make that decision after examining the patient and formulating a plan of treatment using leading edge technology, such as a cone beam CAT scan that can evaluate the jawbones in 3D.

To learn more about dental implant treatment and bone grafting, visit Dr. Cameron Lee’s website at www.HawaiiOralSurgery.com. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee, call his office in Aiea or Honolulu, Hawaii. Call (808) 484-2288.