Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a procedure that adds volume and density to areas of the jaw where bone has thinned, shrunk, or been damaged. Jawbone is living tissue that responds to stimulation from tooth roots. When a tooth is removed or lost and nothing takes its place, the bone in that spot gradually resorbs. Gum disease can also break down the bone supporting teeth, and an injury or a long-standing infection can leave a defect behind. A graft places material in that area so your own bone can grow into and replace it over time.

The people this helps most are patients planning for dental implants, since an implant needs enough healthy bone to anchor into and stay stable for the long haul. We also discuss grafting with patients having a tooth extracted, where placing material in the socket right away — often called socket preservation — helps maintain the shape of the ridge and keeps future options open. Denture wearers sometimes benefit as well, because a flatter, more resorbed ridge makes a denture harder to fit securely. And in some cases of advanced gum disease, grafting is part of restoring support around teeth we're working to save.

If you're considering a graft, the most useful thing to know is that it's a planning step, not a last resort. Our five doctors — general dentists, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist, and a board-certified orthodontist — look at the whole picture together, so a conversation about grafting is really a conversation about where you want your smile to be in five or ten years. We offer a complimentary consultation, and we'd rather spend that time explaining your options clearly than rushing into treatment.

During that visit, we'll review imaging, talk through how much bone is present, and explain whether a graft is needed now, later, or at all. Timing matters: grafting at the time of an extraction is often simpler than rebuilding a site that has been empty for years, though we treat both. We also perform oral surgery here, including simple and surgical extractions and wisdom teeth removal, which means your grafting and your implant or extraction can be coordinated under one roof rather than passed between offices. Patients can come to us for oral surgery without a referral.

Comfort is a real part of this discussion, too. We offer nitrous oxide sedation and IV sedation, and our comfort menu includes blankets, warm towels, neck pillows, headphones, Netflix and refreshments. Se habla español, so Spanish-speaking patients can ask every question they need to in the language they're most comfortable with.

Cost, Insurance, and Getting Started

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and are happy to run a complimentary benefits check so you know what your plan covers before you decide. We also welcome self-pay patients, and accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

• CareCredit financing for treatment you'd like to spread out over time
• In-house membership plan for patients without insurance — $199 a year for adults, $99 for ages 17 and under
• No annual maximum, no deductibles, no waiting period, no pre-authorizations on the membership plan
• Exams, X-rays, two cleanings and two fluoride treatments a year at 100%, plus 20% to 50% off other treatment

If a missing tooth, a loose denture, or an upcoming extraction has you wondering about the bone underneath, come talk with us at 22500 Allen Rd. We see patients of all ages from Woodhaven, Trenton, Riverview and Flat Rock, and we'd be glad to meet you.