Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts in Wilmslow
Told you don’t have enough bone for an implant? Often it can be rebuilt. Bone grafting from £450 and sinus lifts from £850, carried out here.
Croft Dental at 64 Manchester Road in Wilmslow carries out bone grafting from £450, sinus grafts from £500 and sinus lifts from £850, so patients with bone loss can have dental implants without being referred elsewhere. Treatment is planned with a CBCT 3D scan on site and led by Dr Nikhil Oberai, who holds an MSc in Implant Dentistry from the University of Manchester. Where grafting isn't the best route, All-on-4 and zygomatic implants are also offered. Implant consultations are free.
So, why does the bone disappear?
Your jawbone is kept in shape by the tooth roots sitting in it. Every time you bite, the roots pass that pressure into the bone, and the bone stays put.
Take the tooth away and that stops. The bone around the empty socket starts to shrink, fastest in the first months and slowly after that. Wear a denture for long enough and the ridge underneath can become noticeably thin. Gum disease, infection and old extractions all add to it.
In the upper back jaw there’s another factor. The sinus sits just above the roots of the back teeth, and once those teeth are lost it tends to drop into the space, leaving only a thin layer of bone underneath.
None of this is unusual, and none of it means implants are off the table.
It means the bone may need rebuilding first. That’s what bone grafting and sinus lifts are for.
Ways of rebuilding bone for implants
The right approach depends on where the bone is missing and how much. A CBCT 3D scan shows us both, in millimetres, before any decision is made.
Bone grafting
- Adds bone where the ridge is too thin or too short for an implant
- Sometimes done at the same appointment as the implant, or beforehand where more bone is needed
- Socket preservation grafts protect the bone straight after an extraction
- Bone augmentation from £450, sinus grafts from £500
- Where grafting is done first, the site usually heals for several months before the implant
Sinus lift
- For the upper back jaw, where the sinus sits close to the bone
- The sinus membrane is gently raised and bone graft placed underneath
- Creates enough height for an implant to be held securely
- From £850
- Planned from the 3D scan to keep the sinus healthy
When grafting isn't the answer
For some patients, especially those who’ve been without teeth for many years, rebuilding the bone isn’t the most sensible route.
All-on-4 angles the implants to use the bone that’s still there, and zygomatic implants anchor in the cheekbone when the upper jaw has very little bone left.
Because all of these are carried out here, we can recommend the one that suits your mouth rather than the only one we happen to offer.
Am I a suitable candidate?
Most people who’ve been told they lack bone for implants are worth a second look. Dr Nikhil will go through your scan with you and explain exactly how much bone you have, where it is, and what it would take to place implants.
Grafting is often an option if you
- Have lost bone after an extraction or a long time with a gap
- Have a thin or shallow ridge under a denture
- Need an implant in the upper back jaw where the sinus has dropped
- Have healthy gums, or gum disease that has been treated
- Do not smoke, or are willing to stop while the graft heals
We will need to assess further if you
- Smoke, since smoking slows how grafts heal
- Have diabetes that is not well controlled
- Have a history of sinus problems
- Take medication that affects bone, such as some osteoporosis treatments
- Have lost a large amount of bone across the whole jaw
Recovery after a graft
Most patients describe it as similar to having a tooth out. Some swelling and tenderness for a few days is normal and usually manageable with ordinary painkillers.
After a sinus lift you’ll be asked not to blow your nose hard for a while so the area can settle. You’ll get written aftercare and a number to call if anything worries you.
- Real Patient Results
Thousands of Smiles Transformed
Be our Next Success Story!
All photographs show patients treated at Croft Dental and are published with their consent. Results shown are individual results.
Your treatment journey
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1Step one: consultation and 3D scanDr Nikhil examines the site, discusses your options and takes a CBCT 3D scan. The scan shows bone volume, density and the position of the nerves and sinuses, which is how the implant position is planned precisely rather than approximately. You receive a written treatment plan with full costs afterwards.
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2Step two: any preparatory workIf the tooth is still in place and needs removing, if gum disease needs treating, or if bone needs building up through a graft, that happens first. Healing time depends on what is required.
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3Step three: implant placementThe implant is placed under local anaesthetic. For a single implant the procedure usually takes under an hour, and you will feel pressure rather than pain. Where the gap is visible when you smile, a temporary tooth is fitted, so you do not leave with a space.
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4Step four: healing and integrationThe implant needs three to six months to fuse with the bone. There is very little to do during this period beyond keeping the area clean and attending a review appointment. Most patients carry on entirely as normal.
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5Step five: digital impressionsOnce integration is confirmed we take a digital scan so your crown can be made. Shade is matched to your surrounding teeth at this stage.
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6Step six: fitting your crownThe final crown is fitted and adjusted so it sits correctly against the opposing teeth. This appointment is usually short and requires no anaesthetic.
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7Step seven: recovery and aftercareMost patients are back at work the following day. Some swelling and tenderness is normal for the first few days and typically settles within three to five. Stick to softer foods initially and chew on the other side.
Once healed there is nothing to avoid. We review the implant afterwards and continue to check it at your routine appointments, and it is cleaned like any other tooth.
Full written aftercare instructions are provided on the day, and you can ring the practice at any point if something does not feel right.
Pricing and fees
Treatment | From |
Bone augmentation | £450 |
Socket preservation graft | £450 |
Sinus graft | £500 |
Sinus lift | £850 |
CBCT 3D scan, single arch | £80 |
CBCT 3D scan, dual arch | £170 |
£2,500 | |
Sedation, if preferred | £350 |
Implant consultation | Free |
Grafting is quoted separately from the implant and set out in your written treatment plan, so you can see the full cost before anything begins.
Finance through Tabeo is available on treatment over £500.
Where to find us
Croft Dental sits at 64 Manchester Road, on the Handforth side of Wilmslow town centre. Coming up from The Carrs, we are north east along Manchester Road. If you reach Handforth Dean, you have gone too far.
We are around ten minutes on foot from Wilmslow station, five minutes from Handforth, and roughly ten minutes from Alderley Edge up the A34.
Patients travel to us for implant treatment from across the area, including Alderley Edge, Handforth, Styal, Prestbury, Mottram St Andrew, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Poynton, Mobberley, Bramhall and Cheadle, as well as from South Manchester along the A538 from the airport.
Single implant treatment involves three or four appointments across several months. If you are travelling a distance, say so when you book and we will plan the timings around what actually works for you.
Not sure where to start? Give us a ring.
- DENTIST
Meet your Implant Dentist
Dr Nikhil Oberai
BDS · MSc Implant Dentistry, University of Manchester · ADI Member · GDC 150126
Dr Nikhil places single implants at Croft Dental and has completed hundreds of cases with a success rate of 99.5%. His Master’s degree from the University of Manchester involved several years of postgraduate study devoted entirely to implantology, which is a considerably deeper qualification than the short certificate courses many dentists complete before offering implants.
He is a member of the Association of Dental Implantology, a Key Opinion Leader for Osstem, and an Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow at the University of Manchester, where he helps train dentists on the implant programme. Practices across the North West refer their complex implant cases to him.
Two things come up again and again in his patient reviews. The first is that he explains everything before he does it. The second is that it did not hurt.
- Finance
Spread the cost of dental implants with finance
We offer finance on implant treatment through Tabeo so the cost can be spread across monthly payments. Interest-free options are available with no arrangement fees or hidden charges.
Applications take a few minutes and you will know the outcome quickly. We will show you exactly what your treatment would cost per month at your consultation.
- REGISTRATION
Register with Croft Dental as a New Patient
We warmly welcome new patients to our practice. If it’s been a while since your last visit, if dental visits make you feel anxious, if you’ve recently moved to Wilmslow, or if you’re simply seeking a team that truly listens to your concerns, you’ll find a supportive and gentle environment here with us.
During your first appointment, we take the time to conduct a complete evaluation of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. We will listen carefully to your goals, answer any questions, and collaboratively create a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
"I cried at my first appointment. Over 22 weeks my teeth improved beyond recognition."
- FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Bone augmentation at Croft Dental starts from £450, and a socket preservation graft after an extraction is also £450. The exact cost depends on how much bone is needed and is confirmed in your written treatment plan.
Sinus lifts start from £850 and sinus grafts from £500. Which one you need is decided from your CBCT 3D scan.
Usually not. Bone can often be rebuilt with grafting or a sinus lift, and techniques such as All-on-4 and zygomatic implants use the bone that remains. A 3D scan shows what's possible in your case.
It's carried out under local anaesthetic, and most patients compare the recovery to having a tooth out. Sedation is available from £350 if you'd prefer it.
Sometimes the graft and implant are placed at the same appointment. Where grafting is done first, the area usually needs several months to heal before the implant goes in.
Yes. Bone grafting and sinus lifts are carried out at Croft Dental rather than referred elsewhere, so your treatment stays in one place from scan to final tooth.
Yes. Implant consultations are free. A CBCT 3D scan, from £80 for a single arch, is usually needed to plan grafting accurately.