Bone grafting is sometimes needed when there isn’t enough bone to support teeth or future dental treatment. Bone can be lost over time due to:
When we replace or restore teeth, the amount and quality of bone matter. Healthier bone generally leads to more predictable, longer-lasting results.
In some cases, we recommend building up the bone to support future treatment. Common types of bone grafting include:
Socket preservation grafts are the most common and are routinely performed in our office. When a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone naturally shrinks. Placing a graft in the socket helps maintain the bone for future options.
The graft is placed at the time of extraction and typically covered with a membrane to protect the area during healing. The material may come from your own body or from a donor source. Over time, your body integrates the graft and replaces it with your own bone.
Healing usually takes about 3–6 months before the area is ready for the next step, if needed.
Not always. We recommend a bone graft when there isn’t enough bone to support a stable, long-term result—especially if you’re considering an implant. Choosing not to graft is an option, but it can limit what’s possible later.
Bone naturally shrinks after a tooth is removed. Without a graft, that shrinkage can make future treatment more difficult or sometimes not possible, and it may affect the appearance of the area over time.
Most bone grafts take about 3–6 months to heal as your body replaces the graft material with your own bone. During that time, the area becomes strong enough to support future treatment, depending on the situation.
