Dental bone grafting is a regenerative treatment that restores lost or thinning jaw bone to create a strong foundation for your teeth and future dental restorations. By rebuilding bone structure, grafting helps preserve your facial contours, improve oral function, and support long-term dental health.
Bone grafts are often recommended when bone loss has occurred due to tooth extraction, gum disease, trauma, or infection, especially if you plan to replace missing teeth with dental implants.
Summary: Dental bone grafting is a safe, effective way to rebuild jaw bone, prevent bone collapse, and create a stable base for implants or other restorations. This treatment helps maintain your oral health, appearance, and confidence.
We provide socket preservation, ridge augmentation, sinus lifts, and pre-implant bone grafting at our dental office in Boulder, CO.
What Is a Dental Bone Graft?
A dental bone graft is a procedure that rebuilds areas of the jaw where bone volume has been reduced.
During treatment, biocompatible material is added to the area to stimulate new bone growth and restore a stable, healthy structure. This process helps ensure that dental implants and other restorations can be securely placed in the future.
When Is Bone Grafting Recommended?
Bone grafting may be recommended to restore lost bone and prepare your mouth for future treatment. You could benefit from a bone graft if you have:
- Bone loss from gum disease, infection, or missing teeth
- A tooth that has been recently extracted and you plan to replace it with an implant
- Areas of bone collapse or ridge defects that affect your bite or appearance
- Thin or poor-quality bone where an implant will be placed
By rebuilding and strengthening the jaw, bone grafting helps maintain natural facial contours, protect your oral health, and create a stable foundation for long-lasting dental restorations.
Why Timing Matters: After a tooth is lost or removed, bone loss begins quickly and can make future treatment more complex. Bone grafting helps preserve your jaw structure and protect your options for implants or other restorations. If you are considering tooth replacement, ask us whether early bone preservation is right for you.
Types of Bone Graft Materials
There are several types of bone graft materials, each with unique benefits. We will recommend the option that best suits your needs and supports healthy bone regeneration:
- Allografts: Human donor tissue processed through a tissue bank. Highly effective and do not require a second surgical site.
- Autogenous: Taken from your own body (typically jaw, chin, or iliac crest). Requires additional surgical site.
Each grafting method supports bone regeneration and is carefully selected to match your specific needs.
Bone Grafting Procedures
Bone grafting can be used in many situations, from preserving bone after a tooth extraction to rebuilding areas for dental implants. Each procedure is carefully planned to support long-term oral health, maintain natural bone contours, and create a stable foundation for future treatment.
Socket Preservation After Tooth Extraction
To help prevent bone loss after a tooth is removed, we often recommend socket preservation. This technique places bone graft material directly into the empty socket to maintain bone volume and support future treatment.
Procedure:
- After the tooth is extracted, the socket is cleaned to remove any infection or debris.
- Bone graft material is carefully packed into the socket.
- A protective membrane is often applied to stabilize the area.
- The site is sutured closed to protect the graft and support healing.
Healing typically begins right away, and the bone is usually ready for a dental implant in a few months. If an implant is not placed soon after the graft has healed, the bone can begin to shrink again over time, which may require additional grafting in the future.
Pre-Implant Bone Graft
A strong, stable foundation is essential for successful dental implants. If bone has been lost due to gum disease, infection, or long-term tooth loss, a bone graft can rebuild the area to support the implant.
Procedure:
- We use CBCT imaging to evaluate the bone and determine how much grafting is needed.
- A small incision is made to access the area.
- Bone graft material is placed precisely where regeneration is needed.
- A protective membrane may be positioned to cover and stabilize the graft.
- The tissue is sutured closed, and healing is monitored over 3–6 months.
Once the bone has fully healed, the site is reassessed to confirm it is ready for implant placement.
Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation)
In the upper jaw near the molars, the bone is often too thin to support a dental implant because of the sinus cavity above it. A sinus lift adds bone height to create a stable foundation for implant placement.
Procedure:
- A small opening is made in the bone near the premolar or molar area.
- The sinus membrane is gently lifted upward with specialized instruments.
- Bone graft material is placed into the space beneath the lifted sinus.
- The area is closed with sutures to protect the graft and begin healing.
- No hammer or tapping used.
Most sinus lifts need about 6 months of healing time before an implant can be placed to ensure the bone is strong and stable.
Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation rebuilds areas of the jaw that have thinned or collapsed due to bone loss. This procedure can improve both the appearance of your smile and the stability needed for a bridge or dental implant.
Procedure:
- The gum tissue is gently opened to expose the area of bone deficiency.
- Bone graft material is placed to restore the height and width of the ridge.
- A barrier membrane is often used to protect the graft and prevent soft tissue from growing into the space.
- The gum is repositioned and sutured over the grafted area.
Healing can take several months, depending on the extent of the graft. Once the bone has fully integrated, the area is ready for final restorations.
Bone Graft Healing Timeline
Healing varies depending on the procedure and graft type. Here’s a general timeline:
| Stage | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Mild swelling and soreness; ice and rest recommended |
| Week 1 | Soft tissue begins healing; sutures may be removed or dissolve |
| Weeks 2–6 | Early bone formation begins |
| Months 3–6 | Full bone regeneration and readiness for implant |
Supporting Your Smile with Bone Grafting
Rebuilding lost bone is an important step toward protecting your oral health and preparing for future dental restorations. Bone grafting helps preserve your natural jaw shape, maintain a stable bite, and create a strong foundation for implants or bridges. We will guide you through each phase with clear information, honest recommendations, and supportive care.
Key Takeaway: Bone grafting provides a reliable way to restore bone structure, improve long-term treatment outcomes, and maintain the health and appearance of your smile.
Insurance and Membership Options
We are in-network with Delta Dental Premier, Cigna DPPO Plus, Anthem, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. We also accept out-of-network benefits and offer a dental membership plan for patients without insurance.
Our office proudly serves Boulder and the surrounding communities of Superior, Louisville, Lafayette, Longmont, and Erie.
To book an appointment at our dental office in Boulder, CO, call (303) 442-6141 or visit us at 777 29th St, Unit 300 Boulder, CO 80303.
FAQs
What is a dental bone graft?
A bone graft is a regenerative procedure that builds up bone in areas of the jaw where it has been lost or thinned, often in preparation for dental implant placement or to preserve bone after extraction.
How long does bone graft healing take?
Initial healing happens in the first 1–2 weeks. Full regeneration typically takes 3 to 6 months depending on the type of graft and location.
How painful is dental bone grafting?
You may feel mild discomfort or swelling for a few days. We use local anesthesia and sedation options to keep you comfortable during the procedure and provide pain management afterward. However, most patients find the procedure very tolerable.
Do I always need a bone graft for a dental implant?
Not always. If your jaw bone is healthy and dense enough, an implant may be placed without grafting. However, if bone loss is present, grafting improves the chances of long-term implant success.
What kind of materials are used in the graft?
We use autogenous (your own bone), donor tissue (tissue bank), xenogenic (animal-derived), and synthetic grafts (alloplastic materials). We choose the best option based on your individual case.
Is bone grafting covered by dental insurance?
Many dental insurance plans offer partial coverage for bone grafting, especially if it is considered medically necessary or part of preparing for a dental implant. Coverage varies by plan and insurance provider. We will help you verify your benefits and provide a clear estimate of any out-of-pocket costs before treatment.
