Bone Grafting
Healthy bone is the foundation of a healthy smile. Bone grafting is a gentle, well-established procedure that helps rebuild and strengthen the jaw, preparing it for restorations like dental implants and supporting your long-term oral health.
Why Bone Grafting Matters
When bone is lost in the jaw, it affects more than your smile. The jawbone supports your teeth, shapes your facial features, and helps you chew and speak more comfortably.
Bone grafting restores what’s been lost. It gives your jaw the strength to support a dental implant, hold a restoration in place, and maintain the natural contours of your face. For many patients, it’s a quiet but essential step toward a complete, confident smile.
Advanced Techniques for Better Outcomes
Bone grafting treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Dr. Erakat tailors the approach to your anatomy and your goals. Here are a few of the different types of grafts we perform.
- Sinus Lift: For bone loss in the upper jaw near the sinuses, a sinus lift gently elevates the sinus membrane to make room for new bone. This step is often needed before placing implants in the upper back teeth.
- Ridge Augmentation: If the bony ridge that holds your teeth has lost height or width, ridge augmentation rebuilds it. The result is a stronger foundation for your implant and a more natural-looking smile.
- Ridge Preservation: After a tooth extraction, the surrounding bone can begin to shrink. Ridge preservation places a graft right after extraction to protect the bone for future restorations.
Types of Dental Bone Grafts
There are several reliable materials available to help rebuild lost bone. Dr. Erakat will help you understand which option is best for your case.
- Autograft: Bone taken from your own body, often considered the gold standard
- Allograft: Carefully processed bone from a certified tissue donor
- Xenograft: Specially prepared bone from an animal source, well-studied and commonly used
- Synthetic Grafts: Biocompatible materials designed to encourage new bone growth
Each option has its own benefits, and you’ll never be left guessing about your choice.
The Process & Healing
A bone grafting procedure is more straightforward than many patients expect. It begins with a consultation, where Dr. Erakat reviews your imaging, talks through your goals, and walks you through what comes next.
On the day of your procedure, you’ll have access to sedation and anesthesia options to keep you at ease. Most grafts take less than an hour. Healing varies from patient to patient — but most feel back to themselves within a few days, with the bone continuing to integrate over the weeks that follow.
Schedule a Consultation
The best place to start is an initial consultation. Dr. Erakat will examine your jaw carefully, listen to your goals, and let you know if bone grafting is the right next step. You’ll leave with a clear plan and honest answers to every question you bring.
Common Questions About Bone Grafting
A few of the questions patients ask us most about this procedure.
Most patients are surprised by how manageable the experience is. The procedure is performed with sedation or anesthesia, so you’ll be comfortable throughout. Afterward, some swelling and tenderness are normal for a few days, and Dr. Erakat will guide you on how to minimize discomfort.
Initial healing typically takes one to two weeks, with most patients back to their normal routine within a few days. The bone itself continues to strengthen quietly over several months. Dr. Erakat will give you a clearer sense of your specific timeline at your consultation.
Not every patient does, but it’s a common step when there isn’t enough healthy bone to support an implant. The only way to know is with a thorough evaluation, including 3D imaging that shows the structure of your jaw in detail. If grafting is recommended, Dr. Erakat will walk you through exactly why.