A bone graft adds bone, or bone-like material, to an area of the jaw that is too thin or too short to hold a dental implant. Not everyone needs one. Your dentist decides after an exam and X-rays, often including a 3D scan. This article explains why grafts are sometimes needed, the common types, and what recovery is usually like.
Why bone matters for an implant
A dental implant is a small post that sits in the jawbone. The bone heals around it and holds it firmly, a little like the root of a natural tooth. For that to happen, there has to be enough healthy bone around the whole implant.
When a tooth is lost or taken out, the bone that used to support it no longer gets the same pressure from chewing. Over time, that area can shrink in height and width. Gum disease, an infection, or an injury can also wear bone away. If too much bone is gone, an implant may not have enough support. That is when a graft may help.
When a bone graft may be needed
- A tooth has been missing for a while. The longer a space stays empty, the more the bone may shrink.
- A tooth is being removed now. The dentist may place graft material in the empty socket at the same visit to help keep its shape. This is often called socket preservation.
- The upper back teeth are missing. The sinus sits just above these teeth. If the bone below it is thin, a procedure called a sinus lift can add bone in that area.
- Bone was lost to gum disease or injury. A graft can rebuild some of what was lost.
Learn more on our bone grafts page.
Types of bone graft material
Graft material acts as a frame. Over the following months, your own bone grows into it and gradually takes its place. Common sources include:
- Your own bone, taken from another spot in your mouth.
- Donor bone that has been carefully processed and tested.
- Bone-like material from an animal source that has been specially processed.
- Man-made (synthetic) material.
Each has its own uses. Your dentist will explain which one they suggest for you and why. If you have a preference, or a cultural or personal reason to avoid a type, say so at the consultation.
What the procedure is like
A bone graft is usually done with local anesthetic, so the area is numb. The dentist opens the gum a little, places the graft material, may cover it with a thin protective layer called a membrane, and then closes the gum with stitches. Small grafts can often be done at the same visit as an extraction.
Sometimes the implant can be placed at the same visit as the graft. Other times the graft needs to heal first. Your dentist decides based on how much bone is there and how stable the implant would be.
Recovery: what to expect
Most people have some soreness and swelling for a few days. Your dentist will give you written aftercare steps. Common advice includes:
- Take any medicine exactly as your dentist prescribes or recommends.
- Use a cold pack on the outside of your face during the first day if you have swelling.
- Eat soft foods and chew on the other side for a while.
- Do not smoke. Smoking can slow healing.
- Keep the area clean in the way your dentist shows you, and avoid poking the site with your tongue or fingers.
- Go to your follow-up visits so the dentist can check healing.
Call the office if you have bleeding that won’t stop, swelling that gets worse after a few days, fever, or pain that is not easing.
How long until the implant?
If the graft needs to heal before the implant is placed, the wait is often several months. It depends on the size and type of graft and on how your body heals. Your dentist will check the area, often with an X-ray, before moving to the next step. If you are also having a tooth removed, see our tooth extractions page, and for the implant step itself, our dental implants page.
Results and suitability vary from person to person. Only an exam can tell you whether you need a graft.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone need a bone graft before an implant?
No. Many people have enough bone for an implant without a graft. Whether you need one depends on how much bone is in the area, its shape, and where the implant needs to go. Your dentist checks this with an exam and X-rays, and often a 3D scan, before recommending anything.
Is a bone graft painful?
The area is numbed during the procedure, so you should feel pressure rather than pain. Afterward, soreness and swelling for a few days is common. Your dentist will tell you how to manage it. If pain gets worse instead of better after a few days, call the office.
Can the graft be done when my tooth is removed?
Often, yes. Placing graft material in the socket right after an extraction can help keep the bone’s shape for a future implant. Your dentist will tell you whether this makes sense for your tooth, based on its location and the condition of the bone around it.
What is a sinus lift?
A sinus lift is a type of bone graft for the upper back jaw. The sinus sits just above the roots of these teeth. When the bone below it is thin, the dentist gently raises the sinus floor and adds graft material underneath. This creates more room and support for an implant in that area.
Will insurance cover a bone graft?
It depends on your plan. Some plans cover part of it and some do not. Before treatment, the team can give you an estimate, and we will verify your benefits with your insurance company. Ask for a written estimate so you know what to expect before you decide.
Next step
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. To talk about your own situation, call Queens Crossing Dental at (718) 886-8199 or book online.
Reviewed by Dr. Kevin Yu, DDS on [date to be added at approval].
Queens Crossing Dental – 136-20 38th Ave, Ste 6C, Flushing, NY 11354
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