Gum Care & Periodontics
Expert Bone Grafting & Socket Preservation Near Mid-Wilshire
Rebuild jawbone volume for future dental implants with in-office bone grafting in Mid-Wilshire. Socket preservation, ridge augmentation, sinus lifts.
Why Bone Matters Before an Implant
An implant needs enough healthy jawbone around it to stay stable for years. After a tooth is lost, the bone that held it tends to shrink, and gum disease or an old infection can wear it away too. When there is not enough bone where a new tooth should go, a graft rebuilds it first.
A graft places bone-building material in the area that needs it. Over the following months your body replaces it with your own bone, and that new bone becomes the foundation for the implant. In Dr. Afar's experience, healing takes about three to six months, depending on your age and health.
Dr. Bijan Afar is a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in the gums and the bone that support the teeth. Grafting sits squarely in that specialty, so the same doctor who plans your implant also prepares the bone for it.
What's Included
- Socket preservation at the time of an extraction
- Ridge augmentation and sinus lifts before implants
- Planned by a periodontist together with your implant
- Imaging to see how much bone is available
Types of Bone Grafts
- Socket preservation: a graft placed right after a tooth is removed, so the socket keeps more of its shape while it heals.
- Ridge augmentation: rebuilding the width or height of an area where bone has already shrunk.
- Sinus lift: adding bone under the floor of the sinus so an implant can be placed in the upper back jaw.
When Is Socket Preservation Worth It?
If a tooth has to come out and you may want an implant later, grafting the socket at the same visit is often the simplest way to keep options open. It can mean less grafting, or none, when the implant is placed. If you plan a bridge or a denture instead, it may not be needed. We explain which applies to you before the extraction.
Recovering From a Bone Graft
- Expect some swelling and tenderness for several days; follow the written aftercare instructions you receive.
- Eat soft foods and chew on the other side while the area heals.
- Avoid smoking, which slows healing and raises the risk of implant failure later.
- Keep your follow-up visits so we can check that the graft is healing before the implant is planned.
Related Care You May Be Looking For
This page is for general education and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for a dental examination. Recommendations depend on your individual health, and results vary from patient to patient.
What to Expect
- 1
Bone assessment
An exam and imaging show where bone is missing and how much an implant would need.
- 2
Graft visit
The graft is placed with local anesthesia, often at the same visit as an extraction.
- 3
Healing
About three to six months for the graft to turn into your own bone, depending on age and health.
- 4
Implant
Once the bone has healed, the implant is placed in the rebuilt area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bone graft before my implant?
How long does a bone graft take to heal?
How much does bone grafting cost?
Is a bone graft painful?
Where does the graft material come from?
Articles & Insights
Read more about Bone Grafting
Dive deeper into specific aspects of bone grafting written by our team.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a consultation for bone grafting and we will walk you through the options, the timing, and the next step for your case.