A bone graft rebuilds jawbone that has shrunk after a tooth was lost, so an implant has something solid to hold. Dr. Jennifer Okhiria places grafts at The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite in Atlanta, often at the same visit as an extraction.
Building the foundation before the implant
Why does the bone shrink?
Bone stays healthy when a tooth root is pressing on it. Once the tooth is gone, the bone in that spot slowly thins. The longer a gap is left empty, the more bone is lost.
When is a graft done at the same time as an extraction?
If you're planning an implant, Dr. Okhiria can place graft material in the socket right after the tooth comes out. It holds the space and keeps the bone from collapsing while it heals.
When is grafting a separate step?
When the bone is already thin, a larger graft may be placed first and left to heal for several months before the implant. Dr. Okhiria has used staged grafting to rebuild bone for patients born with a cleft lip and palate before placing their implants.
Honest limits
Not every implant needs a graft, and we won't add one you don't need. The CBCT scan shows the bone clearly, and Dr. Okhiria will show you on the screen why she is or isn't recommending one.
Cost and scheduling
A socket graft adds little time to an extraction. A staged graft adds a healing period before the implant. Your printed estimate will list the graft separately.
Questions patients ask about bone grafting
Where does the graft material come from?
Most grafts use processed bone from a tissue bank or a mineral substitute that your body slowly replaces with its own bone. Dr. Okhiria explains which material she recommends and why at your consult in Atlanta. Many patients never need bone taken from elsewhere in their body.
Does a bone graft hurt?
The area is numb during the procedure, and sedation is available. A socket graft done with an extraction usually feels no different from the extraction alone. Larger grafts can be sore for several days. You leave our Atlanta office with written aftercare instructions.
How long does a graft take to heal?
A socket graft typically heals for a few months before an implant. Larger grafts can take longer. Dr. Okhiria checks the healed bone on a follow-up scan at our Atlanta office before placing the implant, so the timing is based on what the bone actually shows.
Can I skip the graft and just get the implant?
Sometimes, if the scan shows enough bone. If it doesn't, skipping the graft risks an implant that doesn't hold or fails later. Dr. Okhiria in Atlanta will show you your own scan so you can see why she is or isn't recommending one.
Is bone grafting covered by insurance?
Coverage varies widely by plan. Some plans cover grafting tied to an extraction and some don't cover implant-related grafting at all. Our Atlanta team checks your benefits and puts the graft on your printed estimate as its own line, so nothing is a surprise.
Request a consult
Send a request and our team will call you to find a time. Most patients come with a referral from their dentist, and you're welcome without one.