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Bone grafting

Bone grafting to rebuild the base

A dental bone graft adds bone or bone-like material to your jaw where it has thinned, usually after a tooth is lost, so there is enough support for an implant. Dr. Abtin Shahriari performs socket preservation and ridge grafts at North Georgia Oral Surgeon in Dawsonville, planned with 3D imaging.

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Who it is for

Why bone goes missing.

Your jawbone stays strong because tooth roots stimulate it. When a tooth is gone, the bone in that spot slowly shrinks. Grafting restores the volume an implant needs.

  • A tooth is being removed and you plan to replace it with an implant later
  • A tooth has been missing for a while and the ridge has narrowed
  • Gum disease or an infection has worn bone away around a tooth
  • Your 3D scan shows the bone is too thin or short for an implant
  • An injury damaged the bone around your teeth
A 3D dental imaging machine in a clean, bright room

How it works

How a bone graft works.

Most grafts are done in the office in a single visit, sometimes on the same day as an extraction or implant.

  1. Measuring the bone

    A cone beam CT scan shows the height and width of the bone, so Dr. Abtin can tell how much needs to be added and where.

  2. Choosing the material

    Graft material can come from a tissue bank, an animal source or a synthetic option. Dr. Abtin explains which he recommends and why.

  3. Placing the graft

    With the area numb and any sedation in effect, the gum is opened, the graft is packed into place, often covered with a thin membrane, and the gum is closed.

  4. Letting it mature

    Over the next few months your body gradually replaces the graft with your own bone. A follow-up scan or exam confirms it is ready for an implant.

A consultation room with framed diplomas, a round white desk and two chairs
ConsultationMost of a consultation is for listening. Then you look at your scan together and decide on a plan.

Recovery

How long does a bone graft take to heal?

Expect some swelling and soreness for a few days. A small socket graft often feels much like an extraction, while a larger ridge graft may be more tender. You may notice a few small granules in your mouth in the first days, which is common.

Eat soft foods, avoid pressing on the area with your tongue or a denture, and skip smoking, which slows bone healing. The graft usually needs a few months to mature before an implant can be placed.

Possible risks

  • Part of the graft may not take, and a second graft may be needed before the implant
  • Infection at the graft site
  • Stitches that open early and leave graft material exposed
  • Swelling and bruising, which tend to be greater with larger grafts

Dr. Abtin goes over the risks that apply to you, and how they are lowered, before you decide on surgery.

Read the general after-surgery guide

Sedation options

Comfort, your way.

A socket graft placed during an extraction is often done with local anesthesia. Larger grafts, or grafting combined with other surgery, may call for IV sedation.

  • Option for this procedure

    Local anesthesia

    Numbs the area being treated. You are awake, and you feel pressure but not sharp pain.

  • Option for this procedure

    Nitrous oxide

    A gas you breathe through a small mask. It takes the edge off nerves and wears off within minutes after the mask comes off.

  • Option for this procedure

    IV sedation

    Medicine given through a vein places you in a deeply relaxed, sleep-like state. Most people remember little of the procedure. You need an adult to drive you home.

How sedation works at NGOS

Insurance and cost

Does insurance cover bone grafting?

Some dental plans cover part of a bone graft, especially when it is tied to an extraction or implant, while others treat it as optional. Ask the team what your plan is likely to cover before surgery.

Insurance and financing

FAQ

Bone grafting: your questions.

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Options include donor bone from a regulated tissue bank, processed animal bone, synthetic material, and in some cases a small amount of your own bone. Each one acts as a scaffold your body fills in with new bone. Dr. Abtin will explain the choice he recommends for your case.

No. If your 3D scan shows enough healthy bone, the implant can be placed without grafting. Grafting is recommended when the bone is too thin, short or soft to hold an implant securely in the right position.

It depends on the size of the graft and how you heal. Small socket grafts may be ready in a few months, while larger ridge grafts can take longer. Sometimes a small graft is placed at the same time as the implant.

Socket preservation is a graft placed in the empty socket right after a tooth is removed. It helps limit the shrinking that naturally follows an extraction, which can make a future implant simpler and help the gum line look more natural.

The area is numbed for the procedure, and sedation is available. Afterward, most people describe soreness similar to an extraction, managed with the medicine Dr. Abtin recommends. Larger grafts can feel more tender for a few extra days.

Related care

You may also want to read.

All procedures

Sources for patients

General information from patient education pages by the organizations above. Page updated November 6, 2026.

Ready when you are

Talk with the team today.

Ask a question, ask about your insurance or book a consultation with Dr. Abtin at the Dawsonville office.

Request a visit Call (706) 969-7664