Bone Grafts

What Is a Bone Graft?

Rebuilding the foundation that supports your teeth and implants

Bone grafting is a procedure that replaces or augments bone that has been lost due to gum disease, tooth extraction, or long-term denture wear. Graft material — which may come from your own body, a donor source, or a synthetic substitute — is placed in the deficient area and acts as a scaffold for your own bone cells to grow into and eventually replace.

Bone grafts are most commonly performed in two contexts: as a ridge preservation graft placed immediately after tooth extraction (to maintain the dimensions of the jaw before implant placement), or as a more extensive augmentation procedure to rebuild bone volume in areas where significant loss has already occurred.

At Wellington Periodontal Associates, bone grafting is performed entirely in-house by Dr. Baradarian and Dr. Ceravolo — both of whom limit their practices to periodontics and implant surgery. If you need a graft before or alongside implant placement, there is no need to be referred to a separate surgeon.

Types of Bone Grafts

Ridge preservation (socket graft)
Ridge augmentation (horizontal/vertical)
Sinus lift (posterior upper jaw)
Periodontal osseous graft

Graft Materials

Autograft (your own bone)
Allograft (donor/cadaver bone)
Xenograft (bovine-derived)
Alloplast (synthetic/ceramic)

Timing Is Critical

A ridge preservation graft placed at the time of extraction prevents the rapid bone loss that occurs in the first 3–6 months after a tooth is removed. If you are considering an implant, placing a graft at extraction time is almost always the right decision.

How It Works

From evaluation to healed, implant-ready bone

The exact process depends on the type of graft needed. Here is the general pathway most patients follow.

3D Imaging & Planning

Cone-beam CT imaging maps the exact dimensions of bone loss — width, height, and density — letting us choose the right graft type and volume for your specific defect.

Graft Placement

Under local anesthesia, the graft material is placed into the deficient area and covered with a barrier membrane to protect it. The site is then closed with sutures.

Integration Period

Over 4–9 months, your body's bone cells migrate into the graft scaffold, replace the material, and consolidate into living bone. This timeline varies by graft type and location.

Implant Placement

Once the graft has matured, we confirm readiness with a follow-up CT scan and proceed to implant surgery — now possible because the bone volume has been restored.

Why It Matters

What bone grafting makes possible

Makes implants possible

Without adequate bone volume, implants cannot be placed successfully. A graft restores the dimensions needed to anchor a titanium post firmly and permanently in the jaw.

Preserve your jaw shape

After tooth loss, the jaw ridge shrinks rapidly. A socket graft placed at extraction time preserves the natural contour of bone and gum, making future restoration far simpler.

Restore facial support

Severe bone loss causes the lower face to collapse inward, creating a sunken appearance. Bone augmentation restores volume and the natural contour of the face and jaw.

Repair periodontal bone loss

For bone lost due to gum disease, periodontal grafts combined with disease treatment can regenerate lost support around existing teeth and reduce pocket depths.

Expand your treatment options

Patients told they are "not candidates for implants" due to bone loss often can become candidates after grafting. A consultation gives you clarity on what is actually possible.

Predictable, well-documented results

Modern bone grafting materials and techniques have decades of clinical evidence behind them. Success rates for socket grafts and implant site preparation exceed 95% in healthy patients.

Do I Need a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting may be recommended if you have

A bone graft evaluation is appropriate for patients who:

Are planning a dental implant and have been told bone volume is insufficient

Have a tooth being extracted and want to preserve the site for a future implant

Have lost significant bone from periodontal disease or long-term tooth loss

Have been wearing dentures for years and now want a more permanent solution

Need sinus augmentation for implants in the upper back jaw region

Been told you don't have enough bone?

A second opinion is often worth getting. Advances in bone grafting materials and surgical technique have expanded what is achievable. Our doctors will review your 3D imaging and give you an honest assessment of your options.

What to Expect

Before, during, and after your grafting procedure

Before

CT scan and precise planning

We take a 3D cone-beam CT to measure bone dimensions exactly. We select the right graft material and technique for your case, discuss anesthesia options, and set realistic expectations for the healing timeline before scheduling.

During

Outpatient procedure under local anesthesia

Most grafting procedures take 1–2 hours and are performed under local anesthetic. Sedation is available for anxious patients. You'll go home the same day with written post-op instructions and direct access to our team if you have questions.

After

Manageable recovery, months of maturation

Expect swelling and tenderness for 3–5 days, managed with over-the-counter pain relief and ice. A soft diet for 1–2 weeks protects the graft site. The graft then matures quietly over 4–9 months — during which you live normally — before implant placement.

Common Questions

Frequently asked about bone grafts

Where does the graft material come from?

Graft material can come from your own body (autograft — taken from another site in your mouth or jaw), from a human donor source processed by a bone bank (allograft), from bovine bone mineral (xenograft), or from synthetic calcium-based materials (alloplast). The choice depends on the size and type of defect. Allografts and xenografts are the most commonly used because they eliminate the need for a second surgical site while producing excellent results.

How long does it take for the graft to heal?

A simple socket preservation graft typically matures in 3–4 months. More complex ridge augmentation or sinus lift grafts may require 6–9 months before the bone is dense enough to place an implant. We confirm readiness with a follow-up CT scan — not a fixed calendar date — so that implants are placed only when conditions are optimal.

Is bone grafting painful?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so there is no pain during surgery. Afterward, most patients experience moderate soreness and swelling for 3–5 days — similar to a tooth extraction. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and prescribed pain medication if needed handle this well. The majority of patients are surprised by how tolerable the recovery is.

Can a bone graft fail?

Graft failure is uncommon but possible — most often due to infection, smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, or poor compliance with post-op instructions. Success rates for socket grafts and implant site preparation are consistently above 95% in appropriate candidates. If partial resorption occurs, a second graft procedure can usually address it before implant placement.