Been Told You Don't Have Enough Bone?
If any of these sound familiar, there's real reason for optimism. Modern grafting can rebuild what you've lost and open the door to implants.
Why Bone Loss Doesn't Wait
Bone Keeps Shrinking
Once a tooth is gone, the jawbone steadily loses volume month after month.
Treatment Gets Harder
More bone loss often means a larger graft and a longer path to your implant.
Costs Add Up
Rebuilding more bone later can require additional procedures that add to your total investment.
Fewer Options Remain
As bone disappears, the simpler treatment paths you once qualified for slowly close off.
Daily Frustrations Grow
Loose dentures and missing teeth keep limiting what you can eat and enjoy.
Time Slips Away
Every month of delay is another month before you can begin healing and rebuilding.
Acting sooner often means a simpler graft and a faster path to your new smile.
How Bone Grafting Rebuilds Your Jaw for Implants
Bone grafting is a procedure that rebuilds or preserves the bone in your jaw when there isn’t enough to hold a dental implant (a permanent tooth replacement). When you lose a tooth, the bone that once surrounded its root is no longer stimulated, so it gradually shrinks. A graft adds material to that area, and over the following months your body replaces it with new, living bone that recreates the strong base an implant needs.
At Old North Dentures and Implants, we approach bone grafting in Durham with advanced 3D imaging that maps your jaw in three dimensions. This lets us see exactly where bone is needed and rebuild it with proven materials and precise technique, creating a dependable foundation suited to your anatomy.
Most grafts mature over three to six months
Socket preservation places a graft during tooth extraction
Graft materials act as a scaffold for new bone
Benefits of Bone Grafting
See What's Possible for Your Smile
After
Before
After
Before
Be our Next Success Story!
Request an appointment with one of our doctors and start your smile journey today.
Are You a Candidate for Bone Grafting?
Have been told you lack enough bone for implants
Are dealing with bone loss after losing teeth
Have worn dentures for years and want something stable
Want a permanent, implant-based solution rather than removable teeth
Need an extraction and plan to replace the tooth later
Not Sure If You Qualify?
What to Expect During Your Bone Grafting
Comprehensive Evaluation
Your first visit starts with a thorough exam and advanced 3D imaging that maps your jaw in three dimensions. This lets us measure exactly how much bone you have and where rebuilding is needed. You'll see your own scans, understand your situation clearly, and leave with a plan shaped around your goals rather than guesswork.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Using your digital scans, we map exactly where the graft will go and how it fits into your overall implant timeline. We'll decide together whether grafting happens at the time of an extraction or as its own step. This careful planning means fewer surprises and a treatment designed specifically for your anatomy.
Comfortable Graft Placement
On treatment day, we keep you comfortable with local anesthesia and sedation options matched to your needs. We gently place the graft material into the prepared site using precise technique. If a tooth is being removed, this often happens in the same visit. Most patients feel only mild pressure and are relieved by how manageable it is.
Healing and New Bone Growth
Over the following months, your body does the remarkable work of replacing the graft with your own living bone. You'll follow simple aftercare guidance while the site strengthens, and we'll check your progress along the way. This healing period creates the dependable foundation your future implant depends on.
Ready for Your Implant
Once the grafted area has matured, typically after several months, your jaw is ready to support a dental implant. We confirm the bone is strong enough with follow-up imaging, then move forward with placing your implant. At this point, the foundation is set for a stable, lasting smile.
Ready for a Smile That Lasts?
What Recovery After Bone Grafting Looks Like
First 24-48 Hours
Expect some mild swelling and tenderness around the site, which is completely normal and easily managed with prescribed or over-the-counter pain relief. Stick to soft foods and plenty of rest. Most patients find this stage far more comfortable than they anticipated.
First 1-2 Weeks
Swelling fades quickly and most people return to their normal routine within a few days. You'll keep the area clean with simple care instructions and gradually reintroduce more foods as you feel ready. Any tenderness continues to ease throughout this stretch.
Long-Term Healing
Beneath the surface, the real work continues for several months as your body transforms the graft into strong, living bone. You won't feel this process, and you can live normally throughout. We monitor your progress until the site is ready to support your implant.
Questions About Recovery? We're here to help.
Flexible Payment Plans for Your Smile
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
Don't Wait to Smile. Check out Our Payment Options.
Bone Grafting FAQs
Does bone grafting hurt?
How long does a bone graft take to heal?
Will I definitely need a bone graft for implants?
Where does the graft material come from?
Can the graft be done at the same time as my extraction?
Am I a candidate for bone grafting?
How does bone loss happen in the first place?
Is bone grafting safe?
What can I eat after a bone graft?
How does grafting fit into my overall implant timeline?
Still Have Questions?
