Bone grafting

Bone grafting for dental implants in Miami

After a tooth is lost, the bone that held it slowly shrinks. A bone graft rebuilds it, so an implant has a solid foundation — or preserves it from the start.

Book a consultation Call (305) 845-1830

Medically reviewed by Dr. Rodolfo Rodriguez, DMD · Updated October 4, 2026

Why bone shrinks

Tooth roots keep the jawbone working. When a tooth is lost, the bone around it is no longer used and begins to shrink, in height and in width. The longer a tooth has been missing, the more bone may be gone.

Types of bone graft

Socket preservation. A graft placed right after an extraction, to keep the socket from collapsing.
Ridge augmentation. Rebuilding the width or height of the jaw where bone has already shrunk.
Grafting with an implant. A small graft placed at the same time as the implant, to cover or support it.
Sinus lift. In the upper back jaw, the floor of the sinus is gently raised and bone added beneath it, so an implant has enough height.

Your 3D scan shows which of these, if any, you need.

Planning on a 3D scan

A 3D CBCT scan taken here in the office measures the bone exactly. Dr. Rodriguez uses it to decide whether you need a graft at all, and where. Sometimes an implant can be angled or sized to use the bone you have — the idea behind All-on-4.

The 3D CBCT scanner in the Perla Dental office — Our 3D CBCT scanner, here in the office.

What treatment involves

The area is numbed, and sedation is available. The graft material is placed and covered, and the gum is closed over it. Over the following months, your body replaces the graft with its own bone. The implant is then placed — or, in some cases, at the same visit as the graft.

Healing

Expect some swelling and soreness for a few days. Follow your aftercare instructions, avoid smoking, which slows bone healing, and keep your follow-up visits.

FAQs

Will I definitely need a bone graft for an implant?

No. Many people have enough bone, and your scan answers the question. Read will I need a bone graft?

Where does the graft material come from?

Most grafts use processed bone or a bone substitute, so no second surgery site is needed. We'll explain the material we recommend for you.

Does it hurt?

It's done under local anesthesia, with sedation if you choose it. Soreness afterward is usually mild and short-lived.

How long before I can get my implant?

Often a few months, depending on the size of the graft. Small grafts are sometimes placed with the implant.

Terms

Bone graft: Material placed to rebuild or preserve jawbone.
Socket preservation: A graft placed in the socket right after an extraction.
Ridge augmentation: Rebuilding the width or height of the jaw where bone has shrunk.
Sinus lift: Adding bone under the floor of the sinus in the upper back jaw, so an implant has enough height.
Graft material: Usually processed bone or a bone substitute, which your body gradually replaces with its own bone.
CBCT: Cone-beam computed tomography: a 3D X-ray that shows the bone, the nerves and the sinuses.
Osseointegration: The jawbone bonding to an implant, over the months after it is placed.

Start with a conversation.

Tell us what's going on, in English or Spanish. We'll take it from there.