Disclaimer: This page is general educational information, not dental or medical advice. Only a licensed dentist or dental specialist who has examined you can recommend treatment. Individual results, risks and timelines vary.
Overview
Implants need adequate bone. After tooth loss, the jawbone can shrink. Bone grafting adds or regenerates bone so an implant can be placed.
Types include socket preservation after extraction, ridge augmentation and sinus lifts in the upper jaw. Graft materials may come from the patient, donors, animals or synthetic sources.
Grafting can extend the timeline, as the graft needs to heal before implant placement in many cases.
The usual process
- Imaging to evaluate bone.
- Discussion of graft type and material.
- Grafting procedure.
- Healing period.
- Re-evaluation before implant placement.
Things worth considering
- Healing time varies.
- Costs vary.
- Graft materials vary; ask about options.
- Grafting has risks like any procedure.
- Sinus lifts are specific to upper back teeth.
Local notes for Colorado's Front Range
Colorado dental providers are licensed by the state, and you can verify a dentist's license through the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations.
We take inquiries from Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo.
Before you send an inquiry
- Think about scheduling, since implant treatment is usually spread over several visits and months.
- List your medications and relevant medical conditions so you can share them with the provider at your consultation.
- Gather any recent dental X-rays or scans, along with the name of your current dentist, if you have them.
- Check what your dental insurance covers, if you have it, and whether financing matters to you.
- Write down your main goals, such as chewing comfort, appearance, stability of a denture or replacing a single tooth.
Warning signs
- Guarantees of results or claims that there are no risks.
- No written treatment plan with itemized phases and fees.
- No discussion of alternatives such as bridges, dentures or no treatment.
- Unwillingness to tell you which implant system and components will be used.
- Pressure to commit to full-arch treatment at the first visit.
Questions to ask a provider
- What material will you use?
- How long will healing take?
- What are the risks?
- Can grafting be done at the same time as implant placement?
- What's the cost?
Frequently asked
- What is a sinus lift?
- A procedure that adds bone in the upper jaw near the sinus to support implants.
- Is bone grafting painful?
- It's typically done with anesthesia; discomfort afterward varies.
- Can grafting be avoided?
- Sometimes, depending on bone and implant options.
Related topics
- All-on-4 Style Full-Arch Options: What full-arch implant treatments involve, how they compare with dentures, and questions to ask a provider.
- Single-Tooth Implants: How a single dental implant is typically planned and placed, what affects candidacy and timing, and questions to ask a dentist.
- Replacing Dentures: Options for people considering moving from dentures to implant-supported teeth, and questions to ask a provider.
Have a bone grafting information question for your situation? Use the form below to send an inquiry.