Bone Grafting
Bone grafting isn’t a treatment most people go looking for on its own, it’s usually a step your dentist recommends after finding your jawbone isn’t strong enough yet for what comes next. Missing teeth, gum disease, or an old injury can cause the jawbone to weaken over time, and bone grafting rebuilds that lost volume and density so your jaw can properly support a dental implant or hold its shape after an extraction. Emerald Dental currently offers bone grafting at our Lakewood, CO office, led by Dr. Stephanie Paswaters.
Curious what your smile could look like in six months?
Smile Fact
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet it cannot repair itself once it is lost.
What Bone Grafting Prepares You For
Bone grafting rebuilds areas of the jaw where bone volume has been lost, often to create a stronger foundation for a future dental implant or preserve bone after a tooth extraction. Tooth loss, gum disease, trauma, and other changes can reduce the amount of healthy bone available to support treatment. When there isn’t enough bone where it is needed, bone graft material can be placed in the area to replace missing volume and provide a framework that supports new bone growth as the site heals.
Depending on your needs, graft material may come from your own bone, processed donor tissue, animal-derived material, or a synthetic substitute designed for use in the body. The right option depends on factors such as the location and amount of bone loss, the procedure being planned, and your individual anatomy. Your dentist will use your exam and dental imaging to determine whether grafting is necessary and explain which material and approach are appropriate before moving forward.
Where the Graft Material Comes From
This is worth explaining plainly, since it’s a fair thing to want clarity on before agreeing to any kind of graft. There are three sources: your own bone, taken from a site inside your mouth or jaw itself rather than another part of your body like a hip or leg the way some medical grafts work; donor bone, processed and screened for safety by a tissue bank before it’s ever used; or a synthetic substitute, a lab-made, biocompatible material designed to encourage your own bone to grow around it. Your dentist will recommend whichever source fits your specific case, and will walk you through exactly why before moving forward.
How Bone Grafting Works
Consultation and Imaging.
Detailed imaging maps your bone structure precisely, confirming whether grafting is needed and which graft source fits your case.
Placing the Graft.
The graft material is carefully placed in the area that needs rebuilding, using techniques designed to keep the procedure as comfortable as possible.
Healing and Integration.
Over the following months, your body naturally integrates the graft into new, living bone, and once healed, your jaw is ready for an implant or other restorative treatment.
Benefits of Bone Grafting
The value of bone grafting isn’t in the procedure itself, it’s in what becomes possible afterward.
Creates a stable foundation for dental implant placement
Prevents further bone loss after tooth extraction
Preserves natural facial contours, avoiding a sunken appearance
Protects the stability of neighboring teeth
Once healed, grafted bone remains strong for years
Why Emerald Dental for Bone Grafting
Every grafting plan starts with detailed imaging, so the graft source and approach are chosen for your specific anatomy, not a default option. Dr. Paswaters coordinates grafting with any restorative or implant treatment that follows, so the process moves as one connected plan rather than separate, disconnected steps. Meet Dr. Paswaters on our About Us page.
What Patients Are Saying
Real feedback from real patients across our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need bone grafting before getting a dental implant?
No, only if imaging shows your jawbone doesn’t have enough density or volume to support the implant securely. Many patients have plenty of healthy bone and can move straight to implant placement without needing a graft first.
How is the graft material chosen for my case?
Your dentist chooses between your own bone, donor bone, or a synthetic substitute based on how much bone needs rebuilding, where in the jaw the graft is needed, and your overall health. Each source is safe and effective, and you’ll understand the reasoning before your treatment plan is finalized.
How long after a bone graft can I get a dental implant?
Most patients wait a few months while the graft integrates into new, living bone, though the exact timeline depends on how much rebuilding was needed. Your dentist will confirm your specific timeline based on how your healing progresses.
Is bone grafting painful, and what's recovery like?
Discomfort is generally manageable and similar to what you’d expect from a tooth extraction, with any soreness typically improving within a few days. Your dentist will walk you through aftercare so healing stays on track.
What happens if I need bone grafting but decide not to get it?
Without grafting, there may not be enough bone to safely support certain treatments like implants, and existing bone loss can continue over time. Your dentist can walk you through what that means for your specific situation and goals.
A Stable Foundation for What Comes Next
Not having enough bone today doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up on restoring your smile. Bone grafting can rebuild the support needed to create a stronger foundation for dental implants and other future treatment. Emerald Dental offers bone grafting at our Lakewood, CO office. Schedule a consultation to find out what your smile needs to move forward.
Find Us
Two Convenient Locations
Both offices are open Monday through Thursday and accept new patients of all ages.
Lakewood
Emerald Dental Lakewood
12093-A West Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228
Littleton
Emerald Dental Littleton
2731 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123