If you’ve been exploring dental implants as a solution for missing teeth, you may have heard the term “bone graft.” Being told you might need an additional surgical step can feel intimidating, but it’s a common and highly successful procedure that often makes a secure, long-lasting implant possible. At Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA, we believe that understanding the why behind a treatment is just as important as the treatment itself.
A bone graft is a way to rebuild and strengthen your jaw where bone has been lost. It creates the solid, healthy foundation that dental implants require to function properly and stand the test of time. Think of it as preparing the ground to ensure a strong, stable, and permanent new smile.
Dental implants are small titanium posts that act as artificial tooth roots. For them to be successful, they must be surgically placed into the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone in a process called osseointegration. This fusion is what gives implants their incredible stability—making them feel and function just like natural teeth. However, this process requires one crucial element: a sufficient amount of healthy bone.
When a tooth is lost, the section of the jawbone that once supported it no longer receives the daily stimulation it needs from chewing forces. As a result, the body begins to resorb or break down that bone. This bone loss can happen surprisingly quickly, leading to a jaw ridge that is too thin, too short, or too soft to securely anchor a dental implant. Many patients in Glendale and surrounding areas like Montrose and La Crescenta come to us after years of wearing dentures or living with missing teeth due to injury or gum disease. For these patients, a bone graft surgery in Glendale, CA is the essential first step in successful dental implant preparation. It rebuilds what has been lost, ensuring your new implant has the strong support it needs for decades of reliable function.
The idea of a jawbone graft for dental implants might sound complex, but the procedure itself is a routine and predictable part of modern dentistry. In simple terms, it involves adding bone grafting material to the area of the jaw where bone is deficient. This material can be from your own body, a human donor, an animal source, or a synthetic, biocompatible compound. It acts as a scaffold, creating a framework that encourages your body’s natural ability to grow new, dense bone in that location.
At Infinite Dental Wellness, we perform this treatment with a focus on your comfort, using modern, minimally invasive techniques. The procedure is typically done right in our Glendale office using local anesthesia to completely numb the area. We also offer sedation options for patients who feel anxious or want to be fully relaxed. Your surgeon will make a small incision in the gum tissue to access the underlying bone, carefully place the grafting material where it’s needed, and then close the incision with a few small stitches. Over the next several months, your body will work its magic, replacing the graft material with your own strong, living bone and creating the ideal site for a future dental implant.
It’s helpful to think of your jawbone as the foundation of a house. You would never build a house on weak or unstable ground, and the same principle applies to dental implants. A bone graft ensures the foundation is solid before we place your final restoration on top. This crucial step is what allows your implant to withstand the powerful forces of biting and chewing day after day, year after year.
Our Glendale implant team leverages advanced digital imaging, including 3D CBCT scans, to precisely plan every bone graft. This technology allows us to see the exact dimensions of your jawbone and determine the precise amount of material needed, leading to more predictable results and smoother healing. Our comfort-focused care ensures the entire implant bone graft procedure is as gentle and stress-free as possible, setting you up for a lifetime of confident smiles.
The term "bone graft" can refer to several different techniques, each designed to address a specific type of bone deficiency. Your dentist will determine which type is right for you based on your 3D scans and the location of your future implant.
When a tooth has been missing for a long time, the jaw ridge (the bony crest where teeth sit) can become narrow and short. A ridge augmentation is a type of graft designed to increase the width and/or height of the ridge. This creates a larger, more stable base of bone, making it possible to place an implant of the proper size and diameter for optimal strength and aesthetics. This procedure is very common for patients in Glendale who are replacing front teeth or who have worn a partial denture for many years.
The upper back jaw presents a unique challenge for dental implants because of its proximity to the maxillary sinuses (the air-filled spaces behind your cheeks). Often, the bone in this area is naturally thin, and extracting an upper molar can leave very little bone height between the jaw ridge and the sinus floor. A sinus lift, also called a sinus elevation, is a specialized bone graft that addresses this.
During a sinus lift for implants in our Glendale, CA office, the sinus membrane is gently lifted, and bone grafting material is placed into the space created. This increases the amount of available bone, allowing for the secure placement of implants to replace upper back teeth. It’s a very common and highly successful procedure for patients seeking to restore their ability to chew properly.
The best time to think about a bone graft is often right at the moment a tooth is extracted. Socket preservation is a proactive type of graft where bone material is placed into the empty socket immediately after a tooth is removed. This simple step prevents the bone from collapsing and resorbing, effectively preserving the bone volume for a future dental implant. It can often reduce the need for more extensive grafting later on and shorten the overall timeline for getting your new implant.
One of the most common questions patients have is how a bone graft will impact their overall treatment schedule. It’s important to understand that a bone graft requires a healing period. After the graft is placed, it typically needs three to six months to mature and integrate with your jaw. During this time, the graft material is gradually replaced by your body's own new bone, creating a solid, implant-ready site.
While this does add time to the front end of your implant healing timeline, this investment in healing is non-negotiable for long-term success. Placing an implant into a weak or immature graft site is a leading cause of implant failure. Our Glendale patients often find that investing a few extra months in proper healing is a small price to pay for a strong, beautiful, and natural-feeling smile that can last for decades. Rushing the process is simply not worth the risk.
The success of a dental implant is almost entirely dependent on the quality and quantity of the bone it is placed in. The process of osseointegration—the direct fusion of the titanium implant with the jawbone—can only occur in a healthy, stable environment. Insufficient bone means the implant cannot achieve this critical bond, leaving it loose and unable to withstand chewing forces.
Proper dental implant preparation in Glendale is about more than just the surgery itself; it’s about creating the ideal biological conditions for success. A bone graft directly addresses any deficiencies, ensuring that when your implant is finally placed, it has the dense, healthy bone it needs to integrate fully. This meticulous preparation is what leads to implant success rates of over 95% and ensures your investment in your smile is a lasting one.
Patients are often pleasantly surprised by how manageable recovery from bone graft surgery is. While it is a surgical procedure, modern techniques have made it a very gentle experience. After your procedure, it’s normal to have some minor swelling, bruising, and soreness in the area, which can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication and by applying ice packs to your cheek.
We will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions, which will include:
Infinite Dental Wellness provides close follow-up support, and we may use our 3D imaging to monitor your healing at follow-up appointments, ensuring everything is progressing perfectly.
Our team is dedicated to making your recovery as smooth as possible. Most Glendale patients are able to return to work and their normal daily activities within a day or two of the procedure. We encourage you to rest and take it easy initially. Should you experience any unusual discomfort, excessive swelling, or have any concerns at all, our team is always just a phone call away to provide guidance and support.
This is an excellent and very common question. The answer is no—not every patient who gets a dental implant needs a bone graft. If a tooth is replaced with an implant soon after it is lost, there is often plenty of healthy bone remaining to support it. Furthermore, some patients simply have naturally dense and robust jawbones that don't resorb as quickly.
The only way to know for sure if you need a bone graft is to have a comprehensive evaluation with an experienced implant dentist.
At our Glendale practice, we never take a one-size-fits-all approach. Your journey begins with a detailed consultation and a 3D CBCT scan. This powerful imaging technology gives us an incredibly precise, three-dimensional view of your jaw structure, bone density, and the location of important anatomical features like nerves and sinuses.
Based on this detailed information, as well as your overall health and smile goals, we create a fully personalized treatment plan. We will be able to tell you definitively whether you have enough bone for an implant, or if a bone graft would be beneficial to ensure the best possible long-term outcome.
Choosing the right team for your bone graft and implant journey is crucial. Patients across Glendale, Montrose, La Crescenta, and Pasadena trust Infinite Dental Wellness because of our unique combination of clinical expertise, advanced technology, and a genuinely patient-centered approach. Our team is highly experienced in all forms of bone grafting and implant surgery, allowing us to handle even the most complex cases with confidence and precision.
Our commitment to your well-being extends to every aspect of our practice. Our whole-body focus means we consider your overall health in our treatment planning. We also embrace green dentistry, using digital X-rays that reduce radiation exposure and eliminate chemical waste. We understand that this is a significant investment, and we are proud to accept many PPO plans to help you manage the cost.
If you have been told you may not be a candidate for dental implants due to bone loss, or if you simply want to understand your options, we are here to help. A bone graft may be the key that unlocks the door to a permanent, confident, and healthy new smile.
If you’ve been told you may need a bone graft before dental implants, schedule a consultation at our Glendale office. We will provide a thorough, honest evaluation and answer all of your questions. Call Infinite Dental Wellness at (818) 541-1110 or book online to learn more. Our office is conveniently located at 3600 N Verdugo Rd #201, Glendale, CA 91208.
Typically, a bone graft needs about 3 to 6 months to fully heal and mature before a dental implant can be placed. This allows your body to replace the graft material with its own strong, dense bone, creating a solid foundation for the implant.
The procedure itself is not painful, as it is performed under local anesthesia, which completely numbs the area. It is common to experience some mild to moderate soreness and swelling for a few days afterward, but this is usually well-managed with over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs.
A sinus lift is a specific type of bone graft. It is performed only in the upper back jaw to add bone height between the jaw ridge and the sinus cavity. While all sinus lifts are bone grafts, not all bone grafts are sinus lifts.
While it is rare, bone grafts can fail, usually due to infection or smoking. Following your post-operative instructions carefully is the best way to ensure your graft heals successfully. At Infinite Dental Wellness, we use advanced techniques and provide thorough aftercare support to maximize success rates.
The cost of bone graft surgery can vary significantly depending on the type of graft needed, the amount of material required, and your dental insurance coverage. During your consultation, we will provide you with a clear, transparent breakdown of all associated costs so you can make an informed decision.
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