When a patient is planning for a dental implant, referral to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for tooth removal offers several important advantages.

At AWOMS Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, our surgeons can perform a bone graft at the same time as extraction under our bulk-billed / no-gap policy, meaning there is no additional cost to the patient.

This immediate graft preserves bone volume and helps maintain the ideal ridge contour for future implant placement.

In many cases, this also allows for immediate implant placement, saving the patient approximately three months of healing time.

If the tooth is removed elsewhere, the usual pathway involves waiting for socket healing and bone remodelling (often 3 months), followed by a CBCT or OPG to reassess bone levels - and sometimes another grafting procedure with additional healing time.

By managing the extraction and grafting at the same appointment, AWOMS oral and maxillofacial surgeons ensure better long-term bone preservation, faster treatment, and a more predictable implant outcome.

Referring the patient early allows the surgical site to be planned with the implant in mind from day one.

When to refer:

Any patient considering a dental implant where a tooth is still present - early referral allows grafting at the time of extraction at no extra cost and may enable immediate implant placement.