Bone Grafting in Tacoma, WA

Advanced Bone Grafting for Predictable Results.

Bone grafting rebuilds the jawbone that supports your teeth and your dental implants. It’s one of the most common preparatory procedures we perform at OSYNTRA, and one of the most important for long-term implant success.

Dr. Ghadri performs bone grafting in-house, which means your evaluation, grafting procedure, and implant placement all happen with the same specialist. No referrals to outside surgeons. No gaps in coordination.

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Why Bone Grafting Is Needed?

The jawbone relies on tooth roots for stimulation. When a tooth is lost through extraction, gum disease, or trauma, the surrounding bone begins to resorb (shrink) within months. In some cases, the loss is significant enough that an implant can’t be placed without first rebuilding that bone.

The most common reasons patients need bone grafting:

  • Sinus floor is too low for upper back implant placement (sinus lift)
  • Tooth has been missing for months or years, and bone has resorbed
  • Gum disease has caused bone loss around existing teeth
  • Tooth was extracted and a graft is placed immediately to preserve the socket

Types of Bone Grafts We Perform

Socket Preservation (Extraction Site Graft)

When a tooth is extracted, the bone that surrounded the root begins to collapse within weeks. Socket preservation, placing graft material into the extraction site at the time of removal, dramatically slows this process and keeps the site ready for an implant. This is the single easiest way to protect your bone for future implant placement.

Ridge Augmentation

If significant bone loss has already occurred, a ridge augmentation rebuilds the height and width of the jawbone. Graft material is placed along the ridge, often covered with a membrane to guide bone growth. Healing takes several months before implant placement.

Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation)

Upper back teeth are positioned near the maxillary sinuses. When bone in that area is thin, a sinus lift procedure lifts the sinus floor and adds graft material to create enough depth for implant placement.

Periodontal Bone Grafts

For patients with bone loss caused by gum disease, grafting around existing teeth can help regenerate lost bone and support the teeth that remain. This is often combined with other regenerative procedures.

Regenerative Therapy

What Bone Graft Material Is Used?

Several types of graft material can be used, and Dr. Ghadri will recommend the most appropriate based on your specific situation:

Autograft

your own bone, harvested from another area of your jaw. Considered the gold standard for grafting.

Allograft

processed donor bone from a bone bank. Safe, widely used, and avoids a second surgical site.

Xenograft

bovine (cow) derived bone mineral. Highly biocompatible and commonly used for socket preservation and ridge augmentation.

Alloplast

synthetic bone substitutes. Useful in specific clinical situations.

Most patients receive allograft or xenograft material, which performs very well and eliminates the need for a second surgical site.

The Bone Grafting Process

  1. Preparation: numbing the area and, in some cases, making a small incision to access the bone
  2. Graft placement: adding the graft material to the targeted area
  3. Membrane (if used): a resorbable membrane is placed over the graft to protect it and guide bone growth
  4. Closure: sutures close the site, and healing begins

Recovery varies by procedure. Socket preservation is typically mild. Larger ridge augmentations involve more significant swelling and a longer recovery period. Dr. Ghadri provides detailed post-op instructions for every procedure.

How Long Does Bone Grafting Take to Heal?

Healing timeline depends on the size of the graft:

  • Socket preservation: 4 to 6 months before implant placement
  • Ridge augmentation: 4 to 9 months, depending on volume of graft
  • Sinus lift: 6 to 9 months

Dr. Ghadri tracks healing with follow-up imaging before scheduling implant placement. We won’t move forward until the bone is ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

The procedure is done under local anesthesia. You won’t feel pain during it. Mild to moderate soreness, swelling, and bruising afterward are normal. Most patients manage discomfort with over-the-counter medication. Larger procedures may warrant a prescription for a few days.

Coverage depends on your plan. Many dental insurance plans cover bone grafting when it’s medically necessary (such as socket preservation after extraction or treatment for bone loss from gum disease). We recommend contacting your insurer and will provide documentation to support your claim.

Not always. Severe long-term bone loss may limit what can be rebuilt. In some cases, bone grafting makes implant placement possible; in others, alternatives like implant-supported dentures may be the better path. Dr. Ghadri will be honest with you about what’s achievable.

The bone will continue to resorb. After several years, rebuilding it becomes significantly more complex, and in some cases, implant placement may no longer be possible without major reconstruction. Socket preservation at the time of extraction is a straightforward investment in your future options.

Protect Your Bone. Protect Your Options.

If you’re planning on implants, or if you’ve already lost a tooth, it’s worth finding out whether bone grafting is part of your path. Dr. Ghadri will give you a clear assessment at your consultation.

Address: 2424 Mildred St W, Suite A, Tacoma, WA 98466

(253) 357-0023 Schedule Consultation