Bone Grafting
Dental bone grafting adds bone material to areas of the jaw where volume has been lost, typically after tooth extraction, long-term denture wear, or periodontal disease. Graft material (from the patient, a donor, a synthetic source, or animal-derived) acts as a scaffold for the body to grow new bone, creating a stable foundation for implant placement.
When you need a graft
Bone loss in the jaw happens for several reasons: a tooth has been missing for a while, a denture has been worn for years, or periodontal disease has destroyed supporting bone. A 3D CBCT scan at consultation tells the story clearly. If bone height or width isn't sufficient for an implant, grafting is usually the next step.
The good news: modern grafting is routine, predictable, and usually adds only a few months to the overall implant timeline.
Types of bone grafts
Socket preservation graft. Placed at the time of tooth extraction to preserve the site for a future implant.
Ridge augmentation. Rebuilds width or height of the jaw bone in a specific area before implant placement.
Sinus lift. Specialized graft for the upper back jaw, where the sinus cavity can limit bone height for implants.
Block graft. For significant defects; a small block of bone is transplanted, often from another area of the jaw.
The procedure
3D CBCT scan confirms exactly where bone is needed and in what volume.Planning. Graft type and material are selected based on the defect.Placement. Under local anesthesia, graft material is placed in the target area and protected with a membrane.Healing (3–6 months). The body incorporates the graft into native bone.Implant placement. Once the graft is mature, the implant is placed as planned.For socket preservation, the graft is placed at the time of tooth extraction.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bone grafting painful?
How long does a bone graft take to heal?
Where does the graft material come from?
Can I avoid a bone graft?
How often do bone grafts fail?
