A dental bone graft adds bone to your jaw where it has become too thin or too soft to support a tooth or a dental implant. Redondo Beach Dental Group offers bone grafting in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Torrance.
Most people hear about bone grafting when they are planning a dental implant and are told there is not enough bone to hold it. If you have been told that, or a tooth is about to come out, call (310) 542-6988 to talk through your options.
Why the Jawbone Shrinks
The bone around a tooth is kept in shape by the tooth itself. When a tooth is lost or extracted, that part of the jaw starts to resorb, which means it slowly shrinks in height and width. In a 12-month study of 46 patients who had a back tooth removed, published in the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry in 2003, the width of the bone at the extraction site shrank by about half, and roughly two-thirds of that loss happened in the first three months.
Gum disease is the other common cause. Advanced periodontitis destroys the bone that holds teeth in place, and bone lost this way does not grow back on its own. An injury to the mouth, or a tooth that has been missing for years, can leave the same kind of gap.
Who Needs a Bone Graft
A bone graft is usually recommended when:
- The bone is too thin or too short to hold a dental implant securely
- A tooth is being removed and the site will later receive an implant
- Gum disease has worn away bone around teeth you are keeping
- An old extraction site has shrunk enough to leave a visible dip in the gum
Not everyone does. Many implants are placed without any graft, because the bone is already thick enough. The way to find out is to measure it. A 3D scan with cone beam imaging shows the height and width of the bone and where the nerves and sinuses sit, which regular X-rays cannot show in full.
Where a Graft Goes
Which procedure fits depends on where the bone is missing, and your exam decides which, if any, you need.
- Socket graft. Graft material is placed in the empty socket when a tooth is removed, to limit the shrinking that follows.
- Ridge augmentation. Bone is added to the top or side of a jaw ridge that has already narrowed.
- Sinus lift. In the upper back jaw, the sinus floor is raised and bone is added beneath it, so an implant has enough height.
- Grafting around teeth. Where gum disease has caused bone loss, grafting can be part of gum disease treatment for the teeth you still have.
Graft Materials
Three kinds of material are used. Bone can be taken from another area of your own jaw or body. Bone from a tissue bank avoids a second surgical site. Artificial bone material is another option. Whichever is used, it acts as a framework that your own bone grows into and gradually replaces, creating a firmer base. Bone from your own body means a second area to heal, so the choice depends on how much bone is needed and where.
What Happens During a Bone Graft
- Planning. X-rays and, where needed, a 3D scan show how much bone is missing.
- Numbing. The area is numbed with local anesthetic.
- Placing the graft. The gum is opened over the site, the graft material is placed against the existing bone, and the gum is stitched closed over it.
- Healing. Over the following months your own bone grows into the graft.
- Next step. Once the site has healed, the implant or other treatment can go ahead. In some cases a small graft is placed at the same visit as the implant.
Ask whether L-PRF therapy suits your case. It uses a small sample of your own blood, spun to concentrate platelets and fibrin, to support healing at the surgical site.
Healing and Aftercare
Swelling and soreness for the first few days are common, and most people return to normal routines soon after. The bone itself takes much longer. Grafts often need several months to mature before an implant goes in, and your dentist will set the timing from how the site heals.
Typical instructions include:
- Following the aftercare instructions you are given, including any medication
- Avoiding smoking, which slows healing
- Eating soft foods and keeping pressure off the site for the first days
- Calling if swelling or pain gets worse instead of better
Gum tissue normally heals over the graft. Where the gum itself has pulled back or is too thin, soft tissue grafting may be needed as well.
What a Bone Graft Costs
The cost of a bone graft depends on the type of graft, how much bone is needed, the material used and whether other steps, such as an extraction or a 3D scan, happen at the same time. Ask for an estimate after your consultation so you know the number before treatment starts.
Insurance coverage for bone grafting varies by plan. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For the remaining balance, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Who You Will See
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations. Ask to see your X-rays and, when one is taken, a 3D scan, which shows where the bone is thin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dental bone grafting cost?
The cost of dental bone grafting depends on the type of graft, how much bone is needed and the material used. A socket graft at the time of an extraction is usually a smaller procedure than rebuilding a ridge or lifting the sinus. Ask for an estimate after your exam so you have the full number before you decide.
How much does it cost to pull a tooth and do a bone graft?
The cost of pulling a tooth and placing a bone graft together depends on how difficult the extraction is, which tooth it is and how much graft material the socket needs. Ask for a combined estimate at your consultation.
Will insurance pay for a bone graft?
Insurance coverage for a bone graft depends on your plan and on why the graft is needed. Some plans pay part of the cost, and some limit coverage when the graft is only to prepare for an implant. Deductibles and annual maximums still apply, so ask us how your plan applies before treatment.
When is it too late for a bone graft?
A bone graft is rarely ruled out just because a tooth has been missing for a long time. The longer the gap, the more bone has usually been lost, so the graft may need to be larger or done in stages before an implant. Your overall health and the 3D scan decide what is possible, and in some cases a bridge or denture is the better plan.
Is dental bone grafting worth it?
Dental bone grafting is worth considering when you want an implant and the bone is too thin to hold one, because the graft is what makes the implant possible. It can also preserve the shape of the jaw after an extraction. If you are not planning an implant, ask whether a graft changes anything for your case before agreeing to one.
What are the downsides of bone grafting?
The main downsides of bone grafting are added time and cost before an implant, a few days of swelling and soreness, and, when your own bone is used, a second area to heal. Like any surgery it carries a risk of infection, and a graft does not always take fully, so some sites need a second graft. Smoking raises that risk.
Will gums grow over a bone graft?
Gums normally heal over a bone graft, because the gum is stitched closed over the graft material when it is placed. During the first weeks, small grains of graft material can sometimes work their way out; tell us if you notice this. If the gum is too thin to cover the area, a gum graft may be added.
Book a Bone Graft Consultation in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online.