Bone grafting is a procedure used to add bone to areas where bone is deficient, often following a tooth extraction or due to other factors like gum disease or trauma. It is necessary because after an extraction, the jawbone in the area can begin to deteriorate, losing density and volume over time. Bone grafting helps preserve the bone structure, creating a solid foundation for a future dental implant and ensuring the surrounding teeth and tissues remain supported. This process is vital for maintaining oral health, preventing shifting of teeth, and allowing for the successful placement of implants to restore functionality and aesthetics
Choosing Pioneer Valley Dental for bone grafting is an excellent decision because we use the best materials and advanced procedures to achieve successful outcomes. Our practice incorporates innovative techniques, including the PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) process, where concentrated components from the patient’s own blood are added to the graft to promote healing and enhance bone regeneration. This cutting-edge approach improves the success rate of bone grafts, accelerates recovery, and provides a more natural and biocompatible solution. With our commitment to quality care and expertise, you can trust that your bone grafting procedure will be handled with precision and care for the best possible results.
Bone grafting adds material to your jaw to rebuild bone that's been lost, usually after a tooth extraction, gum disease, or long-term tooth loss. It's most often done to create a solid foundation before placing a dental implant.
Our post on bone grafting for implants covers the details.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia, so you won't feel pain during it. Afterward, mild soreness and swelling for a few days is normal and manageable with over-the-counter medication, similar to recovering from an extraction.
It depends on your case. We may use bone from another area of your own jaw, a processed donor or synthetic graft material, or a combination, and we'll talk through which option makes the most sense for you before the procedure. All options are chosen to safely encourage your body to grow new, healthy bone in the area.
Healing typically takes 3 to 6 months, sometimes longer for larger grafts, before the site is ready for an implant. We track healing progress with imaging rather than guessing at a fixed timeline.
Not necessarily — it depends on how much healthy bone remains where the tooth is missing, which we assess with a CT scan. Patients who've lost a tooth more recently often have enough bone to skip this step entirely.
Learn more in what to know about bone grafting in modern dentistry.
