Told You Don't Have Enough Bone? Options That Can Avoid Grafting

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., Oct. 29, 2026 — Many adults who have worn dentures for years, or lost teeth to gum disease, are told they lack the bone needed for dental implants. Dr. Vishal Advani of Advani Implant Institute says that for many of these patients, fixed teeth are still possible, often without a separate bone-grafting surgery and months of waiting.

When teeth are lost, the jawbone that held them gradually shrinks. In the upper jaw, the sinuses can also expand downward, leaving little bone for standard implants. The traditional answer is a sinus lift or bone graft, followed by four to nine months of healing before implants can be placed.

Implants that use the bone that remains

Dr. Advani uses techniques that anchor implants in areas of dense bone that remain even after significant loss:

• Pterygoid implants anchor in dense bone at the very back of the upper jaw, behind the sinus.
• Trans-sinus implants pass through the sinus region to engage bone above it.
• Palatal approach implants use bone toward the roof of the mouth when the outer ridge has thinned.

When anatomy allows, these approaches can let patients receive full-arch implants and fixed temporary teeth in a single surgery.

Dr. Advani has placed more than 2,500 implants and is an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). He performs full-arch surgery under IV sedation with an Illinois Permit A, earned his DDS from Columbia University, and has practiced in Elk Grove Village since 2012. Through Advani Implant Institute, he also teaches advanced implant surgery to dentists across Illinois.

Not every patient is a candidate for every approach. Candidacy is determined through a 3D CBCT scan and consultation.

Patient Story

Dominika's story: fixed teeth without months of grafting

Dominika had visited several offices before she came in with missing teeth, an infected upper bridge and a broken lower denture. In one visit under sedation, Dr. Advani removed her failing teeth and placed six implants in each jaw, using pterygoid implants to anchor the back of her upper bridge, a technique that can avoid months of bone grafting. She left with fixed teeth the same day.

"Six months later, I can eat anything I want." — Dominika

Read Dominika's full story →

Dominika gave written permission to share her photos, video and story. Patients in our Smile Story program may receive a treatment discount for sharing their photos and videos. Individual results vary.

###