Rebuild bone volume to create a solid foundation for dental implants.
When a natural tooth is lost or extracted, the surrounding jawbone naturally begins to shrink. Dental bone grafting rebuilds lost bone width and height, making implant placement possible.
Dr. John Nauss performs bone regeneration techniques including socket preservation at the time of extraction, ridge augmentation for narrow ridges, and guided bone regeneration using biocompatible graft materials.
Over several months, your body gradually replaces the graft material with your own healthy bone, creating a stable site for implant placement.
Why Bone Grafting is Essential
Re-establishing adequate bone volume gives your dental implants the support they need.
- Socket Preservation: Placed into extraction sockets to limit the natural ridge collapse that follows tooth loss.
- Ridge Augmentation: Expands thin or narrow jawbone ridges so implants can be placed in the ideal position.
- Same-Day Grafting and Implants: When conditions allow, Dr. Nauss grafts and places the implant the same day the tooth is removed.
- Protects Facial Appearance: Helps prevent the sunken look caused by jawbone shrinkage after missing teeth.
The Bone Grafting Procedure
Bone grafting is performed comfortably in our Johnson City office under local anesthesia, with nitrous oxide available. Dr. Nauss gently prepares the area and places sterile bone graft material.
A protective collagen membrane is placed over the graft to guide bone regeneration while the gum tissue heals over it. The site matures into solid bone over roughly 3 to 6 months, or longer for larger grafts.
Post-Surgical Healing and Aftercare
Post-operative discomfort is usually mild and comparable to a routine tooth extraction. Patients are advised to eat soft foods for 7 to 10 days, avoid using drinking straws, and avoid brushing directly on the graft site during early healing.