Dental Bone Grafting in Beverly Hills
Dental bone grafting in Beverly Hills at ConfiDental rebuilds jawbone that has shrunk after a tooth loss, gum disease or an old infection, so a dental implant has solid bone to hold onto. Dr. Liyan Massaband, DMD, MPH, uses a 3D scan to measure exactly how much bone you have, then recommends the simplest option that works, from socket preservation at the time of an extraction to ridge augmentation or a sinus lift, with a clear healing timeline and written cost before treatment.
What Is a Dental Bone Graft?
A dental bone graft, also called bone augmentation, places bone graft material in the jaw where bone is missing. The material works like a scaffold: your body grows new bone into it, and over the following months most of it is replaced by your own bone.
According to Cleveland Clinic, dental bone grafts are commonly used to prepare for implants, to fill a socket after an extraction and to rebuild bone lost to gum disease.
Why the Jawbone Shrinks
Tooth roots stimulate the bone around them every time you chew. When a tooth is lost, that stimulation stops and the bone slowly melts away, mostly in width at first and then in height. The fastest change happens in the first months after an extraction, which is why a socket graft at the time of extraction is often the simplest way to protect the site.
Other common causes of jawbone loss:
- Gum disease (periodontitis) that has eaten away the bone around teeth
- A long-standing tooth infection or failed root canal
- Wearing a denture for many years
- A failed implant or injury to the jaw
- The upper back jaw, where the sinus naturally expands into the space after a tooth is lost
Do You Need a Bone Graft?
You may need one if:
- A tooth was removed months or years ago and you now want an implant
- You have been told you “don’t have enough bone” for implants
- Your gums and jaw look sunken or narrow where a tooth is missing
- Your denture has become looser over time
- You are having a tooth removed and plan to replace it with an implant later
- Teeth are loose because gum disease has caused bone loss
You may not need one if your 3D scan shows enough bone height and width. Many patients go straight to dental implants, and some small gaps are grafted during the implant visit itself. Mayo Clinic notes that a minor graft can often be done at the same time as implant surgery, while larger grafts are done first.
Types of Bone Grafting Procedures
Procedure | What it does | Often used when | Typical healing before an implant |
Socket preservation | Fills the socket right after an extraction | A tooth is being removed and an implant is planned | About 3 to 4 months |
Ridge augmentation | Widens or builds up a thin jaw ridge | A tooth was lost a while ago | About 4 to 6 months |
Sinus lift (internal) | Gently raises the sinus floor through the implant site | A small amount of extra height is needed in the upper back jaw | Usually done with the implant |
Sinus lift (lateral) | Adds bone under the sinus through a small window | Significant height is missing in the upper back jaw | About 6 to 9 months |
Guided bone regeneration (GBR) | Uses graft plus a membrane to regrow a defect | Bone loss around a planned or existing implant | About 4 to 9 months |
Block graft | A piece of bone fixed in place for large defects | Severe bone loss | Referred to an oral surgeon or periodontist |
For severe upper jaw bone loss, alternatives such as zygomatic implants exist; these are placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and we refer you when that is the better route.
What Is Bone Graft Material Made Of?
Material | Source | Notes |
Autograft | Your own bone, usually from the jaw | Grows bone well but needs a second site |
Allograft | Screened, sterilized human donor bone | Widely used; no second surgical site |
Xenograft | Processed bovine (cow) bone mineral | Resorbs slowly, so it holds space well |
Alloplast | Synthetic materials such as hydroxyapatite or beta-tricalcium phosphate | No human or animal origin |
PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) | Made from a small sample of your own blood | Often mixed with graft material to support healing [CONFIRM PRF IS OFFERED] |
A membrane is often placed over the graft to keep gum tissue out while the bone grows. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons explains these graft sources and membranes in more detail. We explain which material we suggest and why, and you can tell us if you prefer to avoid donor or animal-derived materials.
The Bone Grafting Procedure, Step by Step
Consultation and 3D scan
A dental exam, X-rays and a 3D CBCT scan show how much bone you have and where the nerves and sinus sit. We plan the graft around the exact position of your future implant.
Numbing and comfort
The area is numbed with local anesthesia. Most patients feel pressure but no pain.
Placing the graft
For a socket graft, the material goes straight into the clean socket after the tooth is removed. For a ridge graft or sinus lift, the gum is gently opened, the graft is placed, and a membrane is laid over it.
Closing the site
Stitches hold the gum in place. Many dissolve on their own.
Healing checks
We check the site after about a week and again as the bone matures. A follow-up scan confirms the bone is ready before your implant.
Implant placement
Once the bone has matured, your implant is placed. Read how long dental implants take to heal for the next stage.
Bone Graft Recovery Timeline
Time after surgery | What to expect |
Days 1 to 3 | Swelling and soreness peak; some oozing is normal |
Days 4 to 7 | Swelling eases; many people are back to normal routines |
Weeks 1 to 2 | Stitches dissolve or are removed; gum surface heals |
Months 3 to 4 | Socket and small grafts are often ready for an implant |
Months 6 to 9 | Larger ridge grafts and lateral sinus lifts mature |
Cleveland Clinic notes that large grafts can take 9 to 12 months, and that the implant should be placed once the graft has healed so the new bone does not shrink again.
Aftercare: What to Eat and Avoid
For the first few days:
- Soft, cool or lukewarm foods: yogurt, smoothies (no straw), eggs, mashed potatoes, soup that is not hot, oatmeal
- Chew on the other side
- Take pain relievers and any antibiotics exactly as prescribed
- Use cold packs on the cheek for the first 24 to 48 hours
Avoid:
- Straws, spitting forcefully and vigorous rinsing for the first few days
- Smoking and vaping, which raise the risk of graft failure
- Hard, crunchy or sticky foods near the graft until we say it is fine
- Blowing your nose hard after a sinus lift; sneeze with your mouth open
Small granules of graft material in your mouth in the first days are normal. Call us if you have bleeding that will not stop with pressure, swelling that gets worse after day 3, fever or pus. Our guide to dry socket explains what normal and abnormal healing look like after an extraction.
Risks and Success
Bone grafting is a routine procedure with a high success rate, but no surgery is risk-free. Possible problems include:
- Infection at the graft site
- Part of the graft not taking, which may need a small repeat graft
- Temporary numbness if a nerve is irritated (rare with 3D planning)
- Sinus irritation after a sinus lift
Your chance of success is higher if you do not smoke, keep diabetes well controlled, keep the area clean and treat any gum disease first. See also dental implant failure signs and causes.
Dental Bone Graft Cost in Beverly Hills
Procedure | Typical cost in Beverly Hills |
Socket preservation (one tooth) | $400 to $1,000 |
Ridge augmentation (one implant site) | $800 to $3,000 |
Guided bone regeneration with membrane | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Internal sinus lift (per site) | $1,000 to $2,000 |
Lateral sinus lift (per side) | $2,500 to $3,500 |
PRF added to a graft | $200 to $400 |
What changes the price: the size of the defect, the graft material, whether a membrane is needed and whether the graft is done at the same visit as an extraction or implant.
Insurance and payment:
- Some dental plans cover part of a socket graft or a graft for implants, up to your yearly maximum.
- Medical insurance sometimes helps when bone loss is from an injury or a documented medical cause.
- We check your benefits and give you a written estimate first. See understanding dental insurance and our payment options.
- For the full cost of an implant with grafting, read our dental implant cost guide.
Bone Grafting as Part of a Bigger Plan
A graft is rarely the end goal. It is usually one step toward:
- A single dental implant
- All-on-4 dental implants or full mouth reconstruction
- Replacing a failed implant after dental implant complications
- Repairing bone loss from gum disease, sometimes with laser gum therapy
Bone grafting rebuilds bone. If your gums have receded, that is a different procedure: see gum grafting.
Having a wisdom tooth or back tooth removed? Ask about socket preservation at the same visit. See impacted wisdom teeth.
Your Beverly Hills Bone Grafting Specialist
Dr. Liyan Massaband | Confidental Beverly hills
Dr. Liyan Massaband, DMD, MPH earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Midwestern University and her Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California, and is licensed by the Dental Board of California. She plans bone grafts and implants together, so the graft is built exactly where the implant will go. For large defects, block grafts or zygomatic implants, she works with periodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons and will tell you plainly when a referral is the better choice.
Read Dr. Massaband’s full profile.
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Book a Bone Graft Consultation
Confidental Beverly Hills, 9615 Brighton Way, Suite 222, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM | Friday 9 AM to 4 PM.
Book online or call (310) 858-9212.
Dental Bone Graft FAQs
Does a dental bone graft hurt?
The area is numb during the procedure, so you should feel pressure but not pain. Most people describe the next few days as sore rather than painful, and over-the-counter pain relievers are usually enough.
How long does it take for a bone graft to fuse?
A socket graft usually takes about 3 to 4 months to fuse and mature. Larger ridge grafts and sinus lifts take about 6 to 9 months, and very large grafts can take up to a year.
How long does a bone graft take to heal before I can eat normally?
Most people eat soft foods for the first few days and return to normal eating within one to two weeks, chewing away from the graft until it has healed.
What is ridge augmentation?
Ridge augmentation is a bone graft that rebuilds the width or height of the jaw ridge where a tooth used to be, so an implant can be placed in the right position.
What is bone graft material made of?
It can come from your own bone, screened human donor bone, processed animal bone or synthetic materials. Over time, your body replaces most of it with your own bone.
Can I get an implant the same day as a bone graft?
Sometimes. Small defects and internal sinus lifts are often done at the same time as the implant. Larger grafts usually need to heal first.
Is a bone graft always needed for dental implants?
No. Many people have enough bone. A 3D scan shows whether you need a graft and how much.
Is bone grafting covered by insurance?
Some dental plans cover part of it, especially socket grafts and grafts for implants, up to your yearly maximum. We check your benefits before treatment.
What happens if I wait too long after an extraction?
The bone keeps shrinking, so the graft you need later may be larger and cost more. If you plan an implant, ask about socket preservation when the tooth is removed.