Socket preservation
When a tooth comes out, graft material goes into the empty socket to help it keep its shape while it heals. It makes a later implant easier to place.
Restorative
Bone Grafting in Tamarac, FL
Rebuild the bone first, so an implant has something solid to hold.
When the jawbone has shrunk after tooth loss, an implant needs more bone before it can go in, and a graft adds it back. Your consultation checks how much bone you have with X-rays and any other studies your case needs, and you see the plan before anything starts.
$65implant consultation
Months of healingoften, before the implant
- $65 implant consultationConsultation
- X-rays and the studies you needWe check
- Often months before the implantHealing
- English and SpanishLanguages
Quick answer
What is a dental bone graft?
A bone graft adds bone to the jaw where it has shrunk or been lost, most often after a tooth is removed or has been missing for a long time. It can be done when a tooth is pulled, to keep the socket from collapsing, or before an implant, to rebuild the ridge. For upper back teeth it is called a sinus lift. The graft heals for a few months, and then the implant goes in. An exam and X-rays show how much bone you have.
Bone firstso the implant has a firm base
Why bone shrinks
Why the jawbone shrinks after tooth loss
Tooth roots keep the jawbone working. Each time you chew, the roots pass that force into the bone, and the bone stays in place. When a tooth is removed or lost, that stimulation stops and the bone around the empty space slowly shrinks. The change is fastest in the first months and keeps going over the years.
Less bone means less to hold an implant. A graft puts bone back where it is needed, so the implant can go in the right spot, at the right angle, with a firm base around it.
A graft may be part of your plan if
- A tooth has been missing for months or years
- You are having a tooth removed and plan an implant later
- An X-ray shows thin or short bone where the implant would go
- You are missing upper back teeth and the sinus sits close to the bone
- You were told elsewhere that you don't have enough bone
Your treatment
How bone grafting works
Exam and X-rays
The doctor checks your teeth, gums and bone. We take X-rays and any other studies your case needs to see how much bone you have.
Your plan
You see which graft you need, whether an implant follows, and the full cost in writing before anything starts.
The graft
The area is numbed with local anesthesia and graft material is placed where bone is needed. Ask us about sedation if you are nervous.
Healing
Over the next few months your own bone grows into the graft. Then the implant is placed, or you move to the next step in your plan.
Types of graft
Which bone graft might you need?
Your X-rays show which one fits your case.
Ridge graft
Adds width or height to a jaw ridge that has thinned, so an implant can go where it should. Healing takes months before the implant.
Sinus lift
The sinus sits just above the upper back teeth. When the bone under it is thin, the sinus floor is lifted slightly and graft material fills the space to make room for an implant.
Cost and insurance
What a bone graft costs
The cost depends on the type of graft, the size of the area and whether an implant follows. That is why the price comes after your exam. Your written plan lists any graft your case needs and the full cost before anything starts.
Some dental plans cover part of a graft, and coverage varies, so we check your benefits first. Monthly financing can spread the rest, subject to approval.
Healing
Caring for the graft while it heals
Keep the site calm and clean
Follow your rinsing and brushing instructions, and don't press on the area or poke it with your tongue or fingers.
Eat soft foods
Stay with soft foods and chew on the other side for the first days, as your dentist tells you.
Skip smoking
Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of problems with the graft. If you smoke, tell us before the plan is set.
Questions patients ask
Bone grafting questions
Do I need a bone graft before a dental implant?
Not everyone does. If you have enough bone, the implant can go in without one. If the bone is thin or short, a graft comes first. X-rays at your consultation show which applies. In some All-on-4 cases the back implants can be angled to use the bone you have, which can avoid a graft.
Does a bone graft hurt?
The area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, soreness and swelling for a few days are normal. Your dentist tells you what to take for it. If you are nervous, ask about sedation.
How long after a graft can I get the implant?
Usually a few months, enough for the bone to heal and grow into the graft. The time depends on the type of graft and how you heal, and your written plan lists each stage.
Can the graft be done when the tooth is pulled?
Often, yes. Placing graft material in the socket at the time of the extraction, called socket preservation, helps the area keep its shape. Whether it makes sense depends on the tooth and the bone around it, and the doctor tells you at your exam.
What is a sinus lift, and who needs one?
A sinus lift adds bone under the sinus floor so an upper back tooth can be replaced with an implant. People who lost upper back teeth long ago often need one, because the bone there thins and the sinus sits closer. Avoid blowing your nose hard while it heals, and follow the instructions we give you.
I was told I don't have enough bone for implants. Can I still get them?
Often a graft can rebuild the bone, and in some cases the implants can be placed at an angle to use what you have. Come in before ruling it out, and bring any X-rays you already have. The $65 implant consultation shows what fits your case.
Patient reviews
What patients say
Google reviews from patients of our Tamarac office.
- Emily Juliana Castillo Mavarez★★★★★
10/10 with the staff, the doctor and everyone in the office, everything was so clean and professional, will be coming back soon
- Tomas Rodriguez★★★★★
Excelente servicio de atención al paciente. Fui atendido por la asistente Tibisay, la cual me atendió con mucho profesionalismo y dedicación. Estaré agradecido por sus servicios
- Vanessa Rodriguez★★★★★
Muy buena la atención de la Dr. Blanca y su asistente Tibisay.
- Reinaldo May★★★★★
Me hice un implante y todo fue super espectacular, la atención de Tibisay y la Dra. Blanca me hicieron sentir tranquilo. Recomendado 100%
- Tom Rodriguez★★★★★
Excellent service, and the assistant Tibisay was lovely.
- Marianela Perez★★★★★
Excelente
- Diana Bermudez★★★★★
Muy buena experiencia , el personal es profesional y atento . Me sentí en confianza en todo momento. Recomendado al 100%
- Tibisay Hernandez★★★★★
La atención excelente de parte de todo el personal, en especial de la Dr. Martin muy profesional, ¡bastante recomendados!
- Lieny Arteaga★★★★★
Great experience at Metropolitan Smile Design!!!
- Gloria Molina★★★★★
Me tratan super bien aqui , me hice mi limpieza hoy con Alina, Ella es muy linda siempre conmigo .Todas las muchachas son muy amables aqui
Related care
Care that goes with a graft
Appointments
Request your appointment
Tell us what you need and a team member will call you to confirm a time. New patients are always welcome.
- Send the form
It takes about a minute.
- We call you back
During office hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
- Come in for your visit
New patients can start with the $65 exam and digital X-rays, with a courtesy basic cleaning.
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- English and Spanish
- Most insurance accepted
Thank you. We got your request.
Our front desk will call you during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to book your visit.
Need us sooner? (954) 322-3865We only use your details to contact you about your visit.
Told you need a graft first?
Metropolitan Smile Design in Tamarac sees patients from across Broward County. Come in for an exam and X-rays, and we'll show you how much bone you have and what your options are. Our team speaks English and Spanish.