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Overview
Why Bone Matters for Implants
An implant needs enough bone around it — in height and in width — to be stable for decades. After a tooth is lost, the jawbone in that area slowly shrinks, most quickly in the first year. In the upper back jaw the sinus can also expand downwards into the space the roots used to occupy.
When a 3D scan shows too little bone, a bone graft or a sinus lift creates it. Many patients do not need either. This guide explains when they are needed, how they change your treatment timeline, and what they cost in Antalya.
Bone Grafting
What a Bone Graft Involves
Graft material is placed where bone is missing, usually covered with a thin protective membrane, and the gum is closed over it. Over the following months your own bone grows into the graft.
The common situations
- Socket preservation — graft placed into the socket when a tooth is removed, to limit shrinkage before an implant.
- Ridge augmentation — widening or building up a ridge that has become too thin for an implant.
- Grafting at implant placement — a small amount of graft added around the implant in the same appointment, where only a little bone is missing.
The materials
Graft material can be your own bone, a processed bone mineral of animal (usually bovine) origin, or a synthetic substitute. If you have a preference for dietary, religious or other reasons, tell us before treatment.
Sinus Lift
Making Room in the Upper Back Jaw
Above the upper premolars and molars sits the maxillary sinus. If the bone below it is too shallow for an implant, the sinus membrane is gently lifted and graft material placed underneath. There are two approaches:
- Internal (crestal) sinus lift — done through the implant site itself when only a few millimetres are missing. The implant is usually placed in the same appointment.
- Lateral window sinus lift — done through a small opening in the side of the jaw when much more height is needed. The implant is often placed after around four to nine months of healing, which adds a visit.
Diagnosis
How We Decide
The decision is made on measurements, not guesswork. Where the plan needs it, a CBCT 3D scan — taken in the clinic and included in the treatment price — shows the height and width of the bone at each implant site and the position of the sinus and nerves.
Your written plan then states, site by site, whether a graft or sinus lift is needed and why. Where there is a reasonable alternative — a shorter implant, an angled implant as used in All-on-4, or, for severe bone loss in the upper jaw, zygomatic implants — we explain it alongside.
Cost
What Grafting Costs in Antalya
Each graft and sinus lift is its own line on your plan, next to the implant it supports.
| Treatment | GBP | USD | EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bone graft Per site | from £150 | $205 | €175 |
| Sinus lift Upper jaw | from £300 | $410 | €350 |
| Consultation and X-ray Free, in clinic and online | Free | Free | Free |
Implants start at £200 depending on the system — see dental implants for the brand-by-brand list. Imaging, including CBCT where the plan needs it, is included in the treatment price.
Your Trip
How Grafting Changes the Timeline
Most common
Graft with the implant
A small graft or an internal sinus lift is done in the same appointment as the implant. Your timeline stays the usual two visits.
Larger cases
Graft first, implant later
A larger graft or lateral sinus lift heals for around four to nine months before the implant, which usually adds a visit.
Before you fly
Recovery days
Allow a few days for swelling to settle. After a sinus lift, your surgeon confirms when it is safe to fly, and we plan your dates around it.
What Is Included
What the Price Covers
Airport transfer
We collect you from Antalya Airport in our own clinic vehicle and take you back at the end. No third-party shuttle, no extra charge.
All imaging
Panoramic X-ray and, where the plan needs it, CBCT 3D imaging. Taken in the clinic, included in the treatment price.
Medication
Anaesthetic, antibiotics and any post-operative medication you need during your stay.
Follow-up checks
Every review appointment during your visit, and remote follow-up by WhatsApp once you are home.
Hotel and flights — just ask
Tell us the dates you have in mind and we will help you plan around them: which hotels near the clinic our patients tend to use, and which routes into Antalya are easiest from where you are. Message us on WhatsApp and we will talk it through.
Recovery
The First Two Weeks
- Swelling and bruising peak after two or three days and then settle. Cold packs and the medication we provide help.
- Eat soft food and chew on the other side for the first days.
- Do not smoke. Smoking is one of the main reasons grafts fail to take.
- After a sinus lift, avoid blowing your nose for about two weeks, sneeze with your mouth open and avoid heavy straining.
- Keep the area clean as instructed, and send us a photo on WhatsApp if anything worries you once you are home.
Honest Answers
Worth Knowing Before You Book
What grafting does and does not do
- Grafts do not always take. Most heal well, but some integrate only partly and need topping up before an implant can go in.
- Health matters. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and some medicines raise the risk of complications. Tell us about them before you travel.
- It adds time. A larger graft can add months and a visit. A plan that promises implants and final teeth in one short trip despite major bone loss deserves questions.
- Not every case needs it. If you have been told you need grafting, it is reasonable to ask why, and what the alternatives are.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Do I need a bone graft for dental implants?
Only if the scan shows too little bone where the implant should go — many patients do not. A CBCT 3D scan, included in your treatment where the plan needs it, measures the height and width of the bone, and your plan explains why a graft is or is not needed.
-
How much does a bone graft cost in Turkey?
Bone grafting starts at £150 per site and a sinus lift at £300 at our clinic in Antalya. They appear as separate lines on your written plan, next to the implants they support.
-
Is bone grafting painful?
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure rather than pain. Swelling and soreness for a few days afterwards are normal and are managed with the medication we provide.
-
How long after a bone graft can I have an implant?
Small grafts are often placed at the same time as the implant. Larger grafts and lateral sinus lifts usually need around four to nine months of healing first, which means an extra visit. Your plan states which applies to you.
-
What is a sinus lift?
In the upper back jaw the sinus sits just above the tooth roots. When there is too little bone below it, the sinus membrane is gently lifted and bone graft material is placed underneath, creating room for an implant.
-
Can I fly after a sinus lift?
Changes in air pressure can matter after a sinus lift, so your surgeon will tell you how long to wait before flying and we plan your dates around it. Avoid blowing your nose for about two weeks and sneeze with your mouth open.
-
What is the graft material made of?
It can be your own bone, a processed bone mineral of animal (usually bovine) origin, or a synthetic substitute. If you have a preference — for dietary, religious or other reasons — tell us before treatment and we will discuss the options.
Send us your X-ray and we will tell you where you stand
A dentist reviews it and you get a written plan. No charge, no deposit, and no obligation to travel.