Surgical · Implant site preparation
Bone Grafting for Dental Implants in Wilmington, NC
Bone grafting rebuilds the jawbone where it has shrunk, so an implant has something solid to anchor to. It is often the reason an answer of "not enough bone" changes to yes.
About bone grafting
Once a tooth is lost, the bone that held it starts to resorb. After a few years there may not be enough width or height left for an implant. A graft adds material that the body gradually replaces with its own bone.
The most common graft we do is at the time of an extraction, packing the socket so it heals full rather than collapsing. Larger grafts rebuild a ridge that has already shrunk. We plan both on 3D cone beam imaging, and we do them here rather than referring out.
How it works
- 3D imagingA cone beam scan measures bone width and height at the site.
- Graft placementGraft material is placed and covered, often at the same visit as an extraction.
- HealingTypically three to six months while the graft becomes bone.
- ImplantThe implant is placed into the rebuilt site, sometimes at the same appointment as the graft.
Recovery and aftercare
Expect some swelling for a few days. Avoid chewing on the site, do not smoke, and do not press on it with your tongue or a denture unless we have adjusted it. Small granules of graft material in your mouth in the first week are normal.
Cost and coverage
Graft fees depend on the size of the site and the material used. A socket graft at extraction is a modest addition that often saves a far larger graft later. It appears as its own line on your implant estimate, and some plans contribute to it.
You may be a candidate if
- A tooth being extracted where an implant is planned later
- Having been told you do not have enough bone for an implant
- A tooth lost years ago with a visibly sunken gum line
- A long-term denture wearer considering implants
- Bone loss from past gum disease around a planned implant site
Bone Grafting by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Barry Frazelle
Dr. Frazelle on why the injection is nothing to dread, and a cheap whitening habit he gives patients.
Questions we get asked
Where does the graft material come from?
Most dental grafts use processed donor or bovine bone that acts as a scaffold for your own bone to grow into. We explain the options at the consultation.
Does bone grafting hurt?
A socket graft adds very little to the discomfort of the extraction itself. Larger grafts are sorer for a few days.
How long before I can get the implant?
Usually three to six months. Some sites can be grafted and implanted in one appointment.
Why graft a socket if I am not ready for an implant yet?
Because the bone shrinks fastest in the first months after an extraction. Preserving it now keeps the option open and avoids a bigger graft later.
I was told years ago I do not have enough bone. Is that still true?
Possibly not. Grafting and angled implant techniques have changed what is possible. A new scan will tell us.
Bone Grafting
Surgery and restoration by the same team.
The doctor placing the implant is the one planning the crown, so position is driven by where the tooth needs to end up.
- 3D cone beam planning on every case
- Single implants through full arch All-on-4
- Sedation available for surgical appointments
- Written estimate before you commit
Been told you do not have enough bone? That answer is often out of date. Bring the scan.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
