Have You Been Told You’re Ineligible for Implants? Discover How Bone Grafting Help Can Change That

When you lose a tooth, the jawbone in that area no longer receives stimulation from chewing and biting. Without stimulation, the body assumes the bone is no longer necessary. Over time, it begins to reabsorb the minerals from that section of bone and transfers them to other body parts, like the hip. Jawbone shrinkage changes the appearance of your face and makes you ineligible for implants.

Bone grafting increases the volume and density of the jawbone. This minor surgical procedure involves transplanting a healthy graft to the resorbed area. We can harvest this dental graft from your body, a human donor, an animal, or synthetic sources. Once placed, the bone graft integrates (fuses) with the existing bone to form a rock-solid foundation.

Patients who qualify for bone grafting must have good oral and overall health. That’s why your procedure starts with a consultation with Dr. Puri. The dentist uses X-rays and 3D scans to determine your eligibility for the procedure. Advanced imaging also helps to determine the optimal location for a dental graft. 

We complete the procedure in our office, typically within 60-90 minutes. We use powerful anesthetics and possible sedation dentistry to ensure a comfortable experience. Once you are entirely comfortable, the doctor places the graft in the resorbed area before closing the area with dissolvable stitches. 

After the bone grafting procedure, your jawbone needs time to heal and regenerate fully. While any initial healing typically happens within 1-2 weeks, the bone generally requires about 3-4 months to integrate and strengthen. Once healing is complete, we can move forward with the surgical procedure of placing dental implants.