For patients in South Africa

Dental bone grafting in Turkey from South Africa: planning the trips

Dental bone grafting rebuilds jawbone that has become too thin or weak to hold an implant. For patients travelling from South Africa, the main question is often not the graft itself but the timing: whether the graft and implants can be done together or need two separate trips. This page explains both, and how to look after the graft at home.

What bone grafting is for

A dental implant needs enough bone around it to stay stable. Where the jaw has become too thin or weak, a bone graft rebuilds the missing volume: graft material is placed in the area, encourages new bone to grow and gradually joins with your own bone. Bone loss commonly follows a tooth extraction, gum disease, an injury, or a tooth that has been missing for a long time. The treatment is described in full on our bone grafting page.

Do you actually need one?

Not necessarily. Many patients have enough bone for implants without a graft. The decision rests on a dental examination and a 3D scan, so ask to see the scan and have the reason for a graft explained before you agree to it. For the upper back jaw, where the sinus limits the bone height, the relevant procedure is a sinus lift instead.

The procedure

Bone grafting is done under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during treatment. Mild swelling and discomfort afterwards are common and are usually managed with prescribed medication. The graft material may be synthetic, donor bone, animal-derived bone or your own bone; the dentist recommends the most suitable option at the consultation.

One trip or two: plan the timing

A graft usually takes three to six months to integrate before an implant can go in. In some cases, where there is enough bone to stabilise the implant, the graft and implant are done at the same appointment. Otherwise you have two trips:

• First trip: the graft, with most patients returning home within three to five days
• Healing at home: several months while the graft integrates, with a check from your dentist in South Africa
• Second trip: implant placement once the graft has healed, as described in the dental implants guide for South Africans

Ask for the expected number of trips in writing.

Planning the trip from South Africa

• Flights: direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Istanbul take around ten hours, followed by a short domestic flight to İzmir, where treatment takes place
• Visa: South Africans apply for an e-Visa online before travelling; see the e-Visa guide
• Time difference: İzmir is only one hour ahead of South Africa, so follow-up calls are easy to arrange
• Return date: book a ticket you can change in case the dentist wants to see you again
• Records: take home your scans and a written note of the graft material and site for your dentist
• Cover: South African medical schemes generally do not cover elective treatment abroad, and travel insurance usually excludes planned treatment abroad; check with both

Looking after the graft

Smoking, poor oral hygiene, certain medical conditions and infection can all affect how well a graft heals, so follow the aftercare instructions closely. Damage or failure caused by smoking, poor oral hygiene or not following aftercare is excluded from our treatment guarantee, which sets out what is covered and for how long. Covered treatment is carried out in İzmir at no charge, with flights and accommodation at your own cost. The board-certified dental team is listed on clinic facts, and our complaints process is published.

What we will not do

We will not graft bone that your scan shows you do not need, we will not place an implant into a graft before it is ready simply to save you a trip, and we will not start before you have seen and agreed the plan.

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need a bone graft before dental implants?

No. Many patients have enough healthy bone for implants without grafting. A dental examination and a 3D scan decide whether a graft is needed.

How long do I need to stay in Turkey for a bone graft?

Most patients return home within three to five days. If implants are placed at a later stage, you come back once the graft has healed and integrated with the jawbone.

How long does a bone graft take to heal?

Initial healing takes a few weeks, but the graft usually needs around three to six months to integrate with your own bone before an implant can be placed.

Can the graft and implants be done on the same trip?

Sometimes. If there is enough existing bone to hold the implant steady, both can be done at the same appointment. Otherwise the graft heals first and the implant is placed later.

What decides the cost of bone grafting?

How much bone needs rebuilding, the graft material, whether implants are placed at the same time or on a second trip, and what the package includes, such as accommodation and transfers. A firm figure is only possible after a scan.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.