A Closer Look at Bone Grafting

If you’d like to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant but don’t have enough jawbone, that doesn’t mean implants are off the table. 

At Chelsea Dental Aesthetics in New York City, David Blaustein, DDS, often recommends bone grafting to rebuild the foundation for a strong, successful implant.

What’s bone grafting?

A bone graft is a procedure that adds bone material to areas of your jaw where bone has been lost or is too thin to support a dental implant. The graft material naturally integrates with your remaining natural bone. 

Bone grafts help increase bone strength and volume, creating a stable foundation for treatments such as dental implants.

Why bone matters for dental implants

Dental implants comprise three elements: the crown (prosthetic tooth), the titanium post, and the abutment that connects the crown to the post. Because we surgically implant the titanium post into your jawbone, it needs a solid foundation. 

Here’s the problem: After a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone naturally shrinks, a process known as jawbone atrophy. In some cases, bone loss occurs quickly, making implant placement more challenging without additional support.

Bone grafting helps rebuild or preserve bone so we can place implants safely and securely.

What to expect during the bone graft process

Dr. Blaustein performs bone grafting in-office using local anesthesia. We also offer sedation available as needed to help you relax. He selects the grafting material based on your specific situation, which may include synthetic material or your own bone.

After placing the graft, Dr. Blaustein allows time for the bone to heal and integrate with your natural jawbone. He provides clear aftercare instructions and closely monitors your healing to make sure the area is ready for the next step, such as dental implant placement. 

Timing for bone grafting

We can perform a bone graft at the same time as an extraction or after you’ve lost a tooth.

Bone grafting at the time of your tooth extraction

After a tooth extraction, how fast you heal depends on the thickness of the surrounding bone. If the walls of your socket are thick, the area often fills in with bone naturally. Your lower jaw heals in about 2-3 months, while the maxilla (upper jaw) heals within about six months.

However, when your socket walls are thin, commonly in the upper and lower front teeth, healing is less predictable. Dr. Blaustein may place a bone graft at the time of extraction. 

That helps your body fill the socket with new bone and preserves the width and volume needed for implant placement several months later.

Bone grafting after long-term tooth loss

If your tooth was removed many years ago, your jawbone in that area may not have enough bone to support an implant. We can place a bone graft next to the existing bone.

This healing process typically takes up to six months. Once the graft fuses with your natural bone, Dr. Blaustein re-evaluates the area and preps you for your implant placement.

Bone grafting and sinus lifts 

Dr. Blaustein may also suggest a bone graft if the sinus cavities in your upper jaw are large or extend into the areas where teeth once were. That’s common when back teeth in your upper jaw were removed long ago.

In these situations, Dr. Blaustein may lift your sinus membrane and add bone graft material to increase bone height. That creates enough space to place dental implants. 

A step toward implant success

Dental implants have a success rate of up to 97%, and bone grafting is often part of achieving that level of long-term success.

If you’re considering dental implants and wondering if you require a bone graft, call our Manhattan office at 917-200-0219 or request an appointment online.