Dental Bone Grafting in Calgary
Restore the bone you need for dental implants with bone grafting at Tooth Bar in Calgary. Predictable, well-tolerated, and the foundation for long-term implant success.
What Is Dental Bone Grafting?
A dental bone graft adds bone material to areas of the jaw that have lost volume, building up the foundation needed for dental implants, denture support, or to maintain the natural shape of the jaw after tooth loss. The procedure is well-established, predictable, and very commonly the precursor to a successful implant placement.
Several types of bone graft are used depending on the situation. Socket preservation places graft material into the empty socket immediately after a tooth is extracted, preventing the rapid bone loss that follows extraction. Ridge augmentation rebuilds bone width or height in a previously edentulous area. Sinus lift (a related procedure with its own page in this cluster) specifically rebuilds bone in the upper-back jaw beneath the sinus cavity.
At Tooth Bar in Calgary, we use 3D CBCT imaging to map your existing bone in three dimensions before grafting, so the graft is placed exactly where needed. Our in-house planning capability and the predictability of modern grafting materials mean most patients heal smoothly and progress to implant placement on schedule.
Who Needs a Bone Graft?
You may need a bone graft if you've lost bone volume due to long-term tooth loss, gum disease, trauma, or wearing a conventional denture for many years. Specific situations that commonly require grafting include patients planning a dental implant where the existing bone has shrunk too thin or too short to safely place the implant, patients having a tooth extracted who plan to replace it with an implant later (socket preservation is much easier than rebuilding bone after it has shrunk), patients whose jawbone has shrunk after years of denture wear, making implant placement difficult, and patients with bone defects from advanced gum disease or previous failed dental procedures.
Not every implant case requires a graft. The 3D CBCT scan during your consultation tells us definitively whether you have adequate bone, whether a small graft would optimize the result, or whether more significant grafting is needed before implant placement.
Benefits of Bone Grafting
The primary benefit of a bone graft is that it makes implant treatment possible when bone has been lost. Without adequate bone, implants cannot be safely or predictably placed. They also don’t look as nice. A successful graft opens the door to implant solutions that would otherwise be off the table.
Socket preservation grafts, performed at the time of extraction, prevent a common problem: the natural collapse of bone in the empty socket. In the first 6 to 12 months after a tooth is removed, the bone in that area shrinks substantially. Preserving that bone now is far easier and less costly than rebuilding it later.
Beyond implants, bone grafting can also preserve the contour of your jaw and the appearance of your face. Significant bone loss in the front of the mouth can affect facial proportions, lip support, and the way dentures or restorations sit. Grafting maintains that structure.
Modern bone graft materials are biocompatible and well-tolerated. The body integrates the graft into your own bone over a few months, leaving behind natural bone rather than foreign material.
Our Bone Grafting Process
Bone grafting timelines vary by the size of the graft. Small socket-preservation grafts integrate in 3 to 4 months. Larger ridge augmentation grafts may take 4 to 6 months. Your treatment plan covers the specific timeline for your case.
Stage 1: planning. We use 3D CBCT imaging to map your bone and plan the size, shape, and location of the graft. You receive a clear written plan, timeline, and cost estimate.
Stage 2: the grafting procedure. Performed under local anesthesia with sedation options available. The gum is gently lifted, graft material is placed exactly where needed, and the area is closed with sutures. Most grafts take 30 to 60 minutes. Recovery is typically mild, comparable to a tooth extraction, and managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
Stage 3: healing. Over the next 3 to 6 months, your body integrates the graft into your existing bone. We check progress with imaging at scheduled intervals.
Stage 4: implant placement. Once the graft has fully integrated, the implant is placed using the new bone as its foundation. From here, the case follows the standard implant timeline (osseointegration, then crown or bridge placement).
Bone Grafting FAQs
Where does the graft material come from?
Most grafts today use processed bone material from human tissue banks (allograft), animal sources (xenograft), or synthetic substitutes. All are biocompatible and rigorously safety-screened. We discuss the specific material we recommend for your case during the consultation.
Is bone grafting painful?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you don't feel it during treatment. Recovery is generally mild, with discomfort similar to or less than a tooth extraction. Most patients manage with over-the-counter pain relief and are back to normal activities within a few days.
How long until I can have my implant placed?
Small grafts integrate in 3 to 4 months. Larger grafts may need 4 to 6 months. Your CBCT scan during healing tells us when the graft is ready to support an implant. We don't rush this step because graft maturity is essential for long-term implant success.
Can I avoid the graft and just place a shorter implant?
Sometimes, in carefully selected cases. There are specialized techniques (short implants, angled implants, zygomatic implants) that can sometimes avoid grafting, but they require specific anatomy. The CBCT scan tells us which approach gives you the best long-term outcome.
What if I don't replace the missing tooth at all?
Without a tooth or implant, the bone in that area shrinks over time. Adjacent teeth shift, the opposing tooth over-erupts, and your bite changes. If you're considering an implant in the future but aren't ready now, a socket preservation graft at the time of extraction is a small investment that keeps your options open.
Build the Foundation for Your Smile
Whether you're planning a future implant or have just been told you need a graft, the consultation is the place to get clear answers. Book a bone graft and implant planning visit at Tooth Bar in Calgary and we'll show you exactly what your case requires.
Call 1-403-246-1002 or book online to schedule.