Oral Surgery · Washington DC
After tooth loss, the jawbone shrinks. Bone grafting restores volume and density so your jaw can support dental implants and maintain facial structure.
Why Bone Grafting
When a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it begins to resorb. Within the first year, you can lose up to 25% of bone width at that site. Over time, this bone loss makes implant placement difficult or impossible without grafting.
Bone grafting places biocompatible material at the deficient site. Over several months, your body replaces the graft material with your own natural bone, restoring the volume and density needed for a strong implant foundation.
Types of Bone Grafts We Perform
Placed immediately after extraction to prevent bone collapse while the site heals.
Rebuilds a ridge that has already resorbed, restoring width and height for future implant placement.
Uses a block of bone (often from the patient's own jaw) for larger defects requiring significant volume restoration.
The Procedure
3D imaging measures exact bone volume and identifies the deficiency. We determine graft type and material based on your specific anatomy.
Under local anesthesia or sedation, the graft material is placed at the deficient site and secured with a membrane that protects it during healing.
Over 4 to 9 months, your body gradually replaces the graft with your own natural bone. We monitor healing with follow-up imaging.
Once the graft has matured, the site is ready for implant placement. A follow-up CT scan confirms adequate bone volume before proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
We use several sources depending on the situation: processed human donor bone (allograft), bovine-derived mineral (xenograft), synthetic biocompatible material (alloplast), or your own bone harvested from another site in the mouth (autograft). Your surgeon recommends the best option for your case.
Bone grafting is performed under local anesthesia with sedation available. During the procedure, you feel no pain. Post-operative discomfort is typically mild to moderate for the first few days and is managed with prescribed medication.
Healing time depends on the type and size of the graft. Socket preservation grafts typically heal in 3 to 4 months. Ridge augmentation and block grafts may require 6 to 9 months. Your surgeon monitors progress with imaging before clearing you for implant placement.
Ready?
Schedule a consultation. A CT scan will show exactly where bone is needed and how we can restore it for a successful implant.