Bone grafting
Our surgeons use advanced techniques to rebuild your foundation for lasting dental implant success.
What is bone grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds or strengthens areas of the jawbone where bone has been lost or is naturally insufficient. In oral surgery, bone grafts are commonly used to create a stable foundation for future dental implants or to preserve bone after tooth extraction.
When a tooth is lost or removed, the surrounding jawbone begins to shrink or resorb over time. Without adequate bone volume, placing dental implants becomes difficult or impossible. Bone grafting solves this problem by restoring lost bone and encouraging new bone growth.
At our practice, we perform several specialized types of bone grafting procedures tailored to each patient’s needs. Below is an overview of the four main bone grafting services we offer.
Which bone grafting procedure is right for you?
Socket preservation (at time of extraction)
To preserve bone and soft tissue immediately after a tooth is removed, helping to maintain the socket’s shape and volume for future dental implant placement.
When it’s used:
This procedure is performed at the same time as a tooth extraction. Once the tooth is removed, bone graft material is placed into the empty socket to prevent the collapse of the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Benefits:
- Helps retain the natural contour of the jawbone and gums
- Makes future dental implant placement more predictable and successful
- Reduces the need for more extensive bone grafting in the future
What to expect:
After the extraction, the grafting material is carefully packed into the socket and often covered with a membrane to protect the site. Sutures may be placed to secure the area. Over time, your body will naturally replace the graft with your own bone.
Ridge augmentation
To rebuild or widen areas of the jaw that have experienced significant bone loss, often due to long-term tooth loss or trauma, in order to allow for dental implant placement.
When it’s used:
Ridge augmentation is performed when the bony ridge of the jaw has become too narrow or too low to support a dental implant. This procedure may be done several months before implant placement or, in some cases, at the same time.
Socket preservation helps maintain the bone after a tooth is removed, while ridge augmentation is used to rebuild bone where it is deficient or has already been lost.
Benefits:
- Restores lost bone volume and jaw structure
- Provides a stable base for future implants
- Improves long-term implant success and aesthetics
What to expect:
Bone graft material is added to the deficient area, sometimes in combination with a resorbable or non-resorbable membrane. The area is allowed to heal for several months while new bone forms and integrates with your natural bone.
Minor sinus lift (indirect sinus lift)
To gently lift the floor of the sinus cavity during implant placement in the upper back jaw when minimal bone height is available.
When it’s used:
A minor sinus lift (also called a transcrestal or “indirect” sinus lift) is performed at the time of implant placement when there is enough existing bone to support the implant, but just barely. A small amount of bone graft material is placed under the lifted sinus membrane to provide additional support.
Benefits:
- Minimally invasive approach with a quicker recovery
- Allows implant placement in areas previously considered too shallow
- Reduces the need for a more extensive sinus procedure
What to expect:
This technique is done through the same site where the implant is being placed. The sinus membrane is gently lifted, and bone graft material is inserted beneath it. The implant is usually placed into the newly grafted site at the same visit. In very rare instances, the implant is placed months later after the site has healed.
Major sinus lift (lateral window approach)
To perform a more extensive bone grafting procedure in the upper back jaw when there is not enough bone height due to sinus expansion, allowing for future or delayed implant placement.
When it’s used:
A major sinus lift is indicated when the sinus floor has dropped significantly and there is less than 4–5 mm of bone remaining. This is common in patients who have been missing upper molars or premolars for a long time.
Benefits:
- Enables implant placement in areas with severe bone loss
- Provides long-term support for larger or multiple implants
- Helps regenerate lost bone in cases of advanced resorption
What to expect:
A small window is created in the side of the maxillary sinus wall, allowing the surgeon to gently lift the sinus membrane. Bone graft material is placed into the space below the lifted membrane to encourage new bone growth. This area is then closed and allowed to heal for several months before implants are placed.
Advanced bone grafting materials
We'll choose the best bone graft material for your situation:
- Donor bone: Safe, processed bone from tissue banks
- Your own bone: Taken from jaw, hip, or other sites
- Synthetic materials: Advanced bone substitutes that promote natural healing
- Growth factors: Proteins that accelerate bone formation and healing
Your surgeon will carefully assess your bone grafting needs—including where the graft material should be obtained from—based on factors like the size of the defect, your overall health, and your specific surgical goals.
Healing & recovery
The healing process varies based on the type of graft and your overall health. Most patients can expect some swelling, mild discomfort, and temporary dietary restrictions. Over the next several months, the grafted material will integrate with your natural bone, creating a strong, healthy foundation for implants or other dental restorations.
We’ll provide detailed post-operative instructions and monitor your progress closely throughout the healing phase.
Socket preservation (after tooth extraction)
To preserve bone and soft tissue immediately after a tooth is removed, helping to maintain the socket’s shape and volume for future dental implant placement.
When it’s used:
This procedure is performed at the same time as a tooth extraction. Once the tooth is removed, bone graft material is placed into the empty socket to prevent the collapse of the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Benefits:
- Helps retain the natural contour of the jawbone and gums
- Makes future dental implant placement more predictable and successful
- Reduces the need for more extensive bone grafting in the future
What to expect:
After the extraction, the grafting material is carefully packed into the socket and often covered with a membrane to protect the site. Sutures may be placed to secure the area. Over time, your body will naturally replace the graft with your own bone.
Ridge augmentation
To rebuild or widen areas of the jaw that have experienced significant bone loss, often due to long-term tooth loss or trauma, in order to allow for dental implant placement.
When it’s used:
Ridge augmentation is performed when the bony ridge of the jaw has become too narrow or too low to support a dental implant. This procedure may be done several months before implant placement or, in some cases, at the same time.
Benefits:
- Restores lost bone volume and jaw structure
- Provides a stable base for future implants
- Improves long-term implant success and aesthetics
What to expect:
Bone graft material is added to the deficient area, sometimes in combination with a resorbable or non-resorbable membrane. The area is allowed to heal for several months while new bone forms and integrates with your natural bone.
Minor sinus lift (crestal approach)
To gently lift the floor of the sinus cavity during implant placement in the upper back jaw when minimal bone height is available.
When it’s used:
A minor sinus lift (also called a transcrestal or “closed” sinus lift) is performed at the time of implant placement when there is enough existing bone to support the implant, but just barely. A small amount of bone graft material is placed under the lifted sinus membrane to provide additional support.
Benefits:
- Minimally invasive approach with a quicker recovery
- Allows implant placement in areas previously considered too shallow
- Reduces the need for a more extensive sinus procedure
What to expect:
This technique is done through the same site where the implant is being placed. The sinus membrane is gently lifted, and bone graft material is inserted beneath it. The implant is then placed into the newly grafted site in the same visit.
Major sinus lift (lateral window approach)
To perform a more extensive bone grafting procedure in the upper back jaw when there is not enough bone height due to sinus expansion, allowing for future or delayed implant placement.
When it’s used:
A major sinus lift is indicated when the sinus floor has dropped significantly and there is less than 4–5 mm of bone remaining. This is common in patients who have been missing upper molars or premolars for a long time.
Benefits:
- Enables implant placement in areas with severe bone loss
- Provides long-term support for larger or multiple implants
- Helps regenerate lost bone in cases of advanced resorption
What to expect:
A small window is created in the side of the maxillary sinus wall, allowing the surgeon to gently lift the sinus membrane. Bone graft material is placed into the space below the lifted membrane to encourage new bone growth. This area is then closed and allowed to heal for several months before implants are placed.
Take a step toward your long-term oral health
If you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone for implants, or if you’re planning for a tooth extraction and want to preserve your options, our team will work with you to develop a personalized grafting and implant plan.
