Bone Grafting in North York

About bone grafting

Your jawbone stays strong partly because tooth roots stimulate it when you chew. When a tooth is removed, that stimulation stops and the bone often begins to shrink, especially in the first months. If you hope to have an implant later, the remaining bone may be too thin to hold it securely.

A dental bone graft fills or builds up that space. The material is usually a sterile, processed graft from a tissue bank or animal source, or a synthetic material. It acts as a scaffold that your body slowly replaces with your own new bone. A protective membrane is often placed over the graft to keep gum tissue out while bone forms.

Grafts come in different sizes. Socket preservation is a small graft placed right after an extraction. A ridge augmentation rebuilds a wider area that has already shrunk. A sinus lift adds bone under the sinus in the upper back jaw. All three types of graft are done here at our clinic, and your dentist will explain which one fits your situation.

When bone grafting may be recommended

• You are having a tooth removed and plan to replace it with an implant
• Your X-rays show the bone is too thin or short for an implant
• A tooth was lost a long time ago and the gum ridge has sunk in
• You lost bone around a tooth from gum disease or infection
• The upper back jaw has limited bone below the sinus

Benefits

• Helps create a stable base for an implant
• Helps keep the shape of the gum ridge after an extraction
• Can improve the look of the gum line in visible areas
• May widen the range of tooth replacement options

What to expect

1. Review your imagingYour dentist measures your bone on X-rays or a 3D scan and explains whether grafting is needed.
2. Numb the areaLocal anaesthetic is used so you feel pressure but should not feel sharp pain.
3. Place the graftThe graft material is placed in the socket or along the ridge and often covered with a membrane.
4. Close the gumThe gum is stitched over or around the graft to protect it while it heals.
5. Check healingYour dentist checks the site at follow-ups and confirms the bone is ready before implant placement.

Aftercare

• Do not spit hard, use a straw or smoke for several days, as these can disturb the graft.
• You may notice a few small granules in your mouth at first; this is common, but tell us if a lot come out.
• Eat soft foods on the other side and take any medicine exactly as your dentist directs.

Other options

If you prefer to avoid grafting, a bridge or a removable denture may replace the missing tooth without needing extra bone. In some cases, a shorter or narrower implant can be used. Your dentist will explain what is realistic with your current bone.

Cost and coverage

The fee for a bone graft depends on its size, the graft and membrane materials, and whether it is done with an extraction or as a separate procedure. Our fees use the ODA suggested fee guide as a reference, and your implant estimate will show the graft as its own line. Insurance coverage varies, so check your plan, and if you have CDCP coverage, ask us how it may apply. LendCare payment plans can help spread the cost.

Our promise: we confirm your coverage and explain the cost before treatment.

Your dental team

Treatment is provided by our dentists. Dr. Ardeshir Ranjbari is a registered specialist in periodontics; our other dentists are general dentists. Some complex cases may be referred to a specialist.

Trusted health information

• Oral health for adults (Government of Canada)
• Oral health (Government of Canada)
• Canadian Dental Care Plan (Government of Canada)

Related services

Bone Grafting near you

We see patients from across North York and nearby areas, including North York, Don Mills, Parkway Forest, Henry Farm, Willowdale, Scarborough, Richmond Hill, Markham.