Bone Grafting

The jawbone can begin to shrink when teeth are lost, or if gum disease is present and progressing. Over time, this affects more than your appearance—it can compromise your health, function, and ability to receive dental implants. Bone grafting is a safe and proven solution that helps rebuild what’s been lost. It can provide your smile with a strong, stable foundation.

Why Bone Grafting May Be Needed

Bone grafting is often recommended when there isn’t enough healthy bone to support a dental implant. This loss can result from tooth extractions, advanced gum disease, injury, or the natural changes that occur over time.

Rebuilding the bone:

• Helps stabilize future dental implants for long-term success
• Preserves facial structure and appearance
• Restores function for chewing and speaking with confidence

Our team may also recommend grafting after extraction, to preserve the bone for future restorative options.

Why Bone Grafting Matters

Your jawbone needs stimulation from natural teeth to stay strong. When a tooth is lost, that stimulation disappears, leading to gradual loss of bone. Left untreated, this loss can impact nearby teeth, facial contours, and your ability to receive implant treatment later on.

Bone grafting helps reverse this process. It allows new bone to grow where it’s needed—creating a healthy foundation for future restorations and supporting your overall oral health.

Types of Bone Grafts We Use

Each case is unique, and we carefully select the right type of bone grafting material for your needs:

• Autografts use your own bone tissue, often harvested from the jaw or another part of the body. These grafts support natural healing and integration
• Allografts come from a donor and are thoroughly screened for safety. They can simplify the procedure and shorten recovery time
• Xenografts are derived from animal sources, usually bovine, and are commonly used in larger grafting areas
• Synthetic grafts are lab-created materials that mimic natural bone. They’re biocompatible and often avoid the need for additional surgical sites

Our surgeons will guide you through each option and explain what’s best for your health and long-term goals.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Your comfort and safety and comfort are always our priority. Before the procedure, we’ll take detailed imaging and walk you through a personalized plan, including anesthesia options that match your needs.

During the procedure, a small incision is carefully made in the gum tissue to access the bone. The graft material is placed gently and secured to encourage healthy integration. For many patients, this is a routine outpatient procedure with minimal discomfort.

Healing times vary, but most patients return to normal activities within a few days, with full bone healing occurring over several months.

Recovery and Care After Bone Grafting

Healing well begins with clear guidance and ongoing support. After your procedure, you can expect some temporary swelling or tenderness, which can be managed with medications and simple home care techniques.

We’ll provide detailed instructions to help you recover comfortably, including:

• Tips for oral hygiene and avoiding infection
• Dietary recommendations (usually soft foods during the initial phase)
• Activity precautions to support graft healing

Follow-up visits allow us to monitor progress and ensure the graft is integrating as expected. Our team is always here to answer questions and adjust your care if needed.

Specialized Grafting Techniques We Perform

• Sinus Lift: For patients with bone loss in the upper jaw near the sinuses, we gently place grafting material to create room for dental implants
• Ridge Augmentation: Used when the jaw has lost significant bone after trauma or disease. This technique rebuilds the shape and width of the bone for better implant support
• Ridge Preservation: Done immediately after tooth extraction to protect the bone and maintain volume for future restorative care

Am I a Candidate for Bone Grafting?

If you’ve experienced bone loss or have been told you aren’t ready for dental implants, bone grafting may open new possibilities for your treatment.

Good candidates include those with:

• Moderate to severe jawbone loss
• Long-standing tooth loss
• Trauma or periodontal damage to the bone

We’ll assess your overall health, review any medical conditions, and develop a plan that’s safe, effective, and centered on your needs. For patients who may not be candidates for grafting, we’ll discuss alternative options, such as mini-implants, or other restorative approaches.

Why Trust Us with Your Bone Grafting Procedure

Our oral surgeons perform bone grafting procedures every day, supporting patients with clinical precision in a calm and supportive environment. We use the latest diagnostic tools and proven materials to enhance safety and predictability—while never losing sight of the person behind the procedure.

Our goal is not only to restore bone, but to restore the confidence that comes with a strong, healthy foundation for your future smile.

If you’ve been told you need bone grafting, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Our team is here to answer your questions, explain your options, and help you take the next step toward better oral health.