Bone grafting in [city], [st]

Patients considering dental implants or facing bone loss often hear about bone grafting in [city], [st]. At [practice_name], this procedure helps rebuild jawbone where it has thinned, collapsed, or changed after tooth loss, gum disease, or injury. The goal is to create a strong, healthy foundation for future treatment and to preserve facial structure.

Bone grafting explained

Bone grafting is an oral surgery procedure that adds bone or bone-like material to areas of the jaw that need more volume or density. It is commonly recommended before dental implants, after extractions to protect the socket, and to correct defects caused by periodontal disease or trauma. In the upper back jaw, a sinus lift is a specialized type of graft that raises the sinus floor to create room for implants.

Graft material may come from your own body (autograft), a human donor (allograft), an animal source (xenograft), or a synthetic option (alloplast). Each choice is selected based on safety, predictability, and your specific treatment goals. Over time, your body replaces the graft with natural bone through a process called remodeling.

How bone grafting can help you

• Improves support for dental implants by restoring sufficient bone width and height.
• Preserves the socket after extraction to limit bone shrinkage and protect neighboring teeth.
• Helps maintain facial contours and a more natural smile line.
• Stabilizes loose teeth when periodontal disease has weakened the jawbone.
• Expands treatment options, including bridges or partial dentures, by strengthening the foundation.

The bone grafting process

Consultation and planning

A comprehensive exam, digital X-rays, and often a 3D scan help map bone volume and identify areas needing support. This is when questions such as "What is bone grafting?" and "How does bone grafting work?" are addressed, along with discussion of autograft vs allograft and other materials.

Day of the procedure

Local anesthesia is used to keep the area comfortable. Sedation may be an option when appropriate. The site is prepared, graft material is placed, and a protective membrane may be added. The gum tissue is then closed with sutures. Most visits take about one to two hours, depending on the size and location of the graft.

Healing and integration

The healing time for a bone graft varies from several weeks to a few months, with many implant-related grafts needing three to six months to mature. Follow-up visits track progress and help determine the right time to proceed with implant placement or other restorative care.

What to expect before and after

Before surgery, plan a soft diet, pick up prescriptions, and arrange a ride home if sedation is used. After surgery, some swelling, mild bruising, and soreness are expected for a few days. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relief are often helpful. Most patients return to normal routines within a day or two, avoiding strenuous activity for several days.

Post-op care includes gentle brushing, saltwater rinses after the first day, and avoiding smoking, straws, or pressure on the site. Stitches are removed or dissolve as directed. Call the office if you notice increasing pain, persistent bleeding, fever, or unusual drainage.

As the graft heals, diet expands and normal brushing resumes. At your check-ins, the team confirms that the graft is integrating and that bone quality meets the needs of the planned treatment. When the site is ready, the next phase—such as implant placement—can begin.