After tooth loss or gum disease, the jawbone can shrink where it no longer receives stimulation. Grafting rebuilds that lost volume, creating the solid foundation an implant needs to fuse securely while helping preserve the natural contours of your face.
Why the jaw loses bone
Bone stays strong because chewing loads it through the roots of the teeth. When a tooth is lost, the bone that held it no longer receives that stimulation and begins to shrink, with much of the loss happening in the first year. Gum disease, infection, injury and years of wearing a denture all reduce bone as well. That is why a tooth lost long ago often needs a graft before an implant can be placed.
What a bone graft does
A graft places bone material where bone is missing: taken from your own body, from a donor, from an animal source or made synthetically. The graft acts as a scaffold. Over the following months your body grows new bone into it and gradually replaces it, restoring enough width and height for an implant to anchor securely and for the gums to sit at a natural level.
Common types
- Socket preservation. Placed in the socket at the time of an extraction so the ridge does not collapse. This is the simplest graft and the one that most often prevents a bigger one later.
- Ridge augmentation. Rebuilds width or height that has already been lost from a ridge that has been empty for some time.
- Sinus lift. In the upper back jaw the sinus sits close above the teeth. A sinus lift gently raises the sinus membrane and adds bone beneath it so implants have enough height to hold.
- Regenerative grafting. Rebuilds bone lost to gum disease around natural teeth or an existing implant.
What to expect
Grafting is done under local anesthetic, with sedation available. Many grafts are placed at the same visit as an extraction. The material is positioned, often covered with a protective membrane, and the gum is stitched over it. Mild swelling for two or three days, a soft diet for a week and care not to disturb the site are the main things to plan for. Follow any antibiotic or rinse instructions exactly.
Healing and timing
A socket graft is usually ready for an implant in about three to four months. Larger grafts and sinus lifts can take longer. We confirm that the new bone is mature with imaging before placing the implant, and when there is enough native bone to stabilize it, graft and implant can sometimes be placed on the same day.
Cost and insurance
Cost depends on the type and size of graft. Grafting is usually planned as one line of a complete implant treatment plan, and some plans cover part of it, particularly socket preservation at extraction. You will have a written estimate before anything begins. See insurance and financing.
Why patients choose it
- Creates a strong base for implants
- Restores lost bone volume
- Supports facial structure
- Improves long-term implant success
Bone Grafting at our New York office
In Midtown Manhattan, bone grafting is performed at 630 5th Avenue, Suite 1815, by the ToothDocs periodontal team. Dr. Nicholas Arroyo trained specifically in implant site development, the grafting that prepares a ridge for an implant; Dr. Noor Mukhtar's training at NYU included regenerative procedures; and Dr. Evelyn Spencer, a board-certified periodontist, is a member of the International Team for Implantology. Grafts, implants and the final restoration with Dr. Kauftheil are all handled in the same office. Call (212) 969-9490 or book online and choose New York.
Your Bone Grafting team in New York
Bone Grafting at our Roslyn office
Bone grafting is offered at our Roslyn office at 1044 Northern Blvd., Suite 106, for patients across Roslyn, Manhasset, Port Washington, Garden City and the North Shore of Nassau County. It is most often the first step of an implant plan, and here that plan is built by Dr. Steven Kauftheil, our founder and prosthodontist, who sees patients at Roslyn and coordinates the full sequence from graft to final crown. If you are having a tooth removed, ask about socket preservation at the same visit: a small graft then is far simpler than rebuilding the ridge later. Call (516) 625-0088 or request an appointment and choose Roslyn.
Your Bone Grafting team in Roslyn
Frequently asked
Why might I need a bone graft?+
When the jawbone has shrunk after tooth loss or gum disease, a graft rebuilds enough volume to securely support a dental implant.
How long does healing take?+
Bone grafts typically need a few months to integrate before an implant is placed. We confirm healing with imaging before the next step.
Does a bone graft hurt?+
The procedure itself is done under local anesthetic, so you feel pressure but not pain. Afterwards most patients describe soreness and swelling for two or three days, similar to a tooth extraction, managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
Where does the bone for a graft come from?+
Most grafts use processed donor bone or a synthetic material, which avoids a second surgical site. In some cases a small amount of your own bone is used. Your periodontist will explain which is best for your situation and why.
Can I get an implant without a bone graft?+
Often, yes. A graft is only recommended when imaging shows there is not enough bone to hold an implant securely. Having a socket graft at the time of an extraction is the most reliable way to avoid needing a larger graft later.
Where can I get Bone Grafting near New York?+
ToothDocs offers Bone Grafting at our New York office: 630 5th Avenue, Suite 1815, New York, NY 10111. Call (212) 969-9490 or request an appointment online to get started.
Where can I get Bone Grafting near Roslyn?+
ToothDocs offers Bone Grafting at our Roslyn office: 1044 Northern Blvd., Suite 106, Roslyn, NY 11576. Call (516) 625-0088 or request an appointment online to get started.