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(303) 355-8670 
Find A Location Bone grafting rebuilds areas of the jaw that have lost volume, creating support for dental implants and other restorative care. At The Dental Team, we make bone grafting in Denver easier to understand with clear answers, personalized planning, and a welcoming Cherry Creek team.
Being told you need a dental bone graft can sound complicated. Often, it’s a practical step that prepares the jaw for replacing missing teeth. After tooth loss, the bone surrounding the tooth's root no longer receives the same stimulation. The bone structure can gradually narrow or shorten, leaving less support for an implant.
Bone loss may also follow periodontal disease, infection, trauma, or tooth extraction. Our dedicated dentists evaluate the area, explain the imaging, and build a treatment plan around your health and goals. The aim is to establish adequate bone volume while keeping you informed and comfortable. We answer questions at every step, without pressure or judgment.
Bone grafting in Cherry Creek may occur when a tooth is removed or before implant placement. Your dentist will explain why grafting is recommended, which graft material may be used, and when the site could be ready for the next stage.
A dental bone graft places bone graft material where the jaw needs additional volume. The graft provides an excellent scaffold for the body's healing process. Over time, natural bone develops around and through this framework, strengthening the graft area.
Several graft types are available. An autograft uses your own bone from another area of your body. An allograft uses processed donor bone from a human donor source. A xenograft is animal-derived, while an alloplast is synthetic. Each has different applications.
The material depends on the defect, the planned dental implant procedure, and your health. A protective membrane may be placed between the graft and gum tissue to hold the material in position while bone grows.
The procedure begins with examination and imaging. Digital X-rays show the teeth and surrounding structures. When needed, a cone beam CT scan provides a three-dimensional view of bone height, width, roots, nerves, and sinus anatomy. This cone beam information guides planning around the surgical site.
Before bone grafting Cherry Creek dentists will review your medical history, medications, oral hygiene, and healing risks. Tell us about uncontrolled diabetes, nicotine use, immune conditions, radiation treatment, and medications affecting bone. Another concern may need attention first.
Local anesthesia numbs the area. For a healed site, the dentist may make a small incision in the gum tissue. During an extraction, material may be placed directly into the empty socket. The dentist positions the graft, may cover it with a membrane, and uses sutures when needed.
Some patients can receive a graft and an implant together. Others need time for new bone growth. The choice depends on whether enough natural bone remains to hold the implant securely during early healing.
Bone grafting may be recommended when the jaw lacks sufficient bone or when preservation could make future care easier. A socket graft after tooth extraction differs from extensive grafting for long-standing missing teeth.
Common reasons include:
In the upper jaw, the sinus membrane may sit close to a planned implant. When bone height is limited, a sinus lift may create space beneath the membrane for graft material. Your dentist will explain whether it applies to you.
A benefit of bone grafting before dental implants is creating a stable foundation where the jaw is too thin or shallow. The graft doesn’t replace a tooth. It prepares the area for a restoration that supports oral function.
Grafting during an extraction may preserve socket dimensions. It can’t stop every change after tooth loss, but it may maintain bone for future treatment. Grafting can also repair localized defects around adjacent teeth during periodontal care.
Extensive tooth and bone loss can affect facial structure, but a small graft does not create a predictable cosmetic change. Benefits depend on the graft's location and purpose. We’ll explain its intended result in your case.
Many patients considering dental implants are candidates, but not everyone requires grafting. An examination and CT scan or other imaging show whether adequate bone volume exists. With sufficient bone, treatment may proceed without a graft.
Candidates should be healthy enough for a surgical procedure and able to follow instructions. Active infection or periodontal disease may need treatment first. Uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, certain medications, or immune problems can affect timing, graft types, and healing.
Tell us about previous surgical complications and all medications. If a bone graft is unsuitable, we can discuss other ways of replacing missing teeth and protecting long term oral health.
Following bone grafting Cherry Creek patients may experience tenderness, swelling, light bleeding, or bruising for several days. Use ice packs and approved medication as directed. Call if discomfort becomes stronger after initially improving.
Choose soft foods such as eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, pasta, or mashed potatoes. Avoid chewing over the surgical site and avoid hot, crunchy, sharp, or sticky foods. After an extraction-related graft, avoid forceful rinsing, spitting, or straws as directed.
Keep your mouth clean, but avoid brushing directly over the graft area until cleared. Do not pull your lip or cheek to inspect the site. Avoid smoking and nicotine, which can interfere with healing.
Attend follow-up appointments so the team can inspect the site, remove sutures when necessary, and monitor the graft. Initial recovery often takes several days, while bone maturation takes months. Timing varies with the graft's size, location, material, and your health.
Call for persistent bleeding, fever, drainage, worsening swelling, or severe pain.
The desired bone grafting result is healthier bone volume in the planned treatment area. Progress is evaluated through an examination and imaging rather than appearance alone. A graft can integrate well and still require time before the next procedure.
Once healing is complete, the dentist determines whether the site can support implant placement. Some patients may need additional grafting, particularly when the original defect was large. No graft can be promised to last a lifetime, but careful planning, good oral hygiene, routine dental care, and avoiding tobacco support long-term oral health.
If you have missing teeth, need an extraction, or are exploring dental implants, schedule an evaluation at The Dental Team in Cherry Creek, Denver, CO. We will assess your jaw, review your options, and explain each step in clear language. Call (303) 355-8670 or request an appointment today.
The area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you should not feel sharp pain during the procedure. Pressure or movement may be noticeable. Soreness afterward is expected and usually improves over several days. Experiences vary, and larger procedures may involve a longer recovery.
The gums begin healing soon after treatment, but the underlying graft requires more time. Depending on the procedure, several months may pass before the dentist evaluates the site for an implant. Extensive grafting can require additional healing time.
No. Dental implants require sufficient bone for support, but many patients already have enough. Imaging allows the dentist to measure the available structure and determine whether grafting would improve the treatment plan.
Yes, graft material can often be placed in the socket after a tooth is removed. This approach may help preserve the site for a future implant. Infection, socket condition, and the planned restoration influence the decision.
The material may be your own bone, processed donor bone, an animal-derived source, or a synthetic product. The dentist will explain the recommended option and how it supports bone growth in the treated area.
Insurance coverage varies. Many dental insurance plans distinguish between grafting performed with an extraction and grafting performed for an implant. Our team can review your benefits and provide an estimate, but coverage and payment remain subject to your plan.
