📍 6510 N University Dr, Tamarac, FLTamarac · Broward
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Restorative

Bone Grafting in Tamarac, FL

Rebuild the bone first, so an implant has something solid to hold.

When the jawbone has shrunk after tooth loss, an implant needs more bone before it can go in, and a graft adds it back. Your consultation checks how much bone you have with X-rays and any other studies your case needs, and you see the plan before anything starts.

Cross-section model of a dental implant in the jawbone between two natural teeth
Freeimplant consultation
Months of healingoften, before the implant
  • ConsultationFree implant consultation
  • We checkX-rays and the studies you need
  • HealingOften months before the implant
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
Quick answer

What is a dental bone graft?

A bone graft adds bone to the jaw where it has shrunk or been lost, most often after a tooth is removed or has been missing for a long time. It can be done when a tooth is pulled, to keep the socket from collapsing, or before an implant, to rebuild the ridge. For upper back teeth it is called a sinus lift. The graft heals for a few months, and then the implant goes in. An exam and X-rays show how much bone you have.

Dental implant with a ceramic crown next to a jawbone model
Bone firstso the implant has a firm base
Why bone shrinks

Why the jawbone shrinks after tooth loss

Tooth roots keep the jawbone working. Each time you chew, the roots pass that force into the bone, and the bone stays in place. When a tooth is removed or lost, that stimulation stops and the bone around the empty space slowly shrinks. The change is fastest in the first months and keeps going over the years.

Less bone means less to hold an implant. A graft puts bone back where it is needed, so the implant can go in the right spot, at the right angle, with a firm base around it.

A graft may be part of your plan if

  • A tooth has been missing for months or years
  • You are having a tooth removed and plan an implant later
  • An X-ray shows thin or short bone where the implant would go
  • You are missing upper back teeth and the sinus sits close to the bone
  • You were told elsewhere that you don't have enough bone
Your treatment

How bone grafting works

  1. Exam and X-rays

    The doctor checks your teeth, gums and bone. We take X-rays and any other studies your case needs to see how much bone you have.

  2. Your plan

    You see which graft you need, whether an implant follows, and the full cost in writing before anything starts.

  3. The graft

    The area is numbed with local anesthesia and graft material is placed where bone is needed. Ask us about sedation if you are nervous.

  4. Healing

    Over the next few months your own bone grows into the graft. Then the implant is placed, or you move to the next step in your plan.

Types of graft

Which bone graft might you need?

Your X-rays show which one fits your case.

At extraction

Socket preservation

When a tooth comes out, graft material goes into the empty socket to help it keep its shape while it heals. It makes a later implant easier to place.

Before an implant

Ridge graft

Adds width or height to a jaw ridge that has thinned, so an implant can go where it should. Healing takes months before the implant.

Upper back teeth

Sinus lift

The sinus sits just above the upper back teeth. When the bone under it is thin, the sinus floor is lifted slightly and graft material fills the space to make room for an implant.

Cost and insurance

What a bone graft costs

The cost depends on the type of graft, the size of the area and whether an implant follows. That is why the price comes after your exam. Your written plan lists any graft your case needs and the full cost before anything starts.

Some dental plans cover part of a graft, and coverage varies, so we check your benefits first. Monthly financing can spread the rest, subject to approval.

Ways to pay

  • Implant consultationFree: an exam, your options and the price, with no obligation.
  • Dental insuranceMost major plans accepted, including PPO. We verify your coverage first.
  • Monthly financingCareCredit, Sunbit, Cherry or Alphaeon, subject to approval.
Healing

Caring for the graft while it heals

Keep the site calm and clean

Follow your rinsing and brushing instructions, and don't press on the area or poke it with your tongue or fingers.

Eat soft foods

Stay with soft foods and chew on the other side for the first days, as your dentist tells you.

Skip smoking

Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of problems with the graft. If you smoke, tell us before the plan is set.

Questions patients ask

Bone grafting questions

Do I need a bone graft before a dental implant?

Not everyone does. If you have enough bone, the implant can go in without one. If the bone is thin or short, a graft comes first. X-rays at your consultation show which applies. In some All-on-4 cases the back implants can be angled to use the bone you have, which can avoid a graft.

Does a bone graft hurt?

The area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, soreness and swelling for a few days are normal. Your dentist tells you what to take for it. If you are nervous, ask about sedation.

How long after a graft can I get the implant?

Usually a few months, enough for the bone to heal and grow into the graft. The time depends on the type of graft and how you heal, and your written plan lists each stage.

Can the graft be done when the tooth is pulled?

Often, yes. Placing graft material in the socket at the time of the extraction, called socket preservation, helps the area keep its shape. Whether it makes sense depends on the tooth and the bone around it, and the doctor tells you at your exam.

What is a sinus lift, and who needs one?

A sinus lift adds bone under the sinus floor so an upper back tooth can be replaced with an implant. People who lost upper back teeth long ago often need one, because the bone there thins and the sinus sits closer. Avoid blowing your nose hard while it heals, and follow the instructions we give you.

I was told I don't have enough bone for implants. Can I still get them?

Often a graft can rebuild the bone, and in some cases the implants can be placed at an angle to use what you have. Come in before ruling it out, and bring any X-rays you already have. The free implant consultation shows what fits your case.

Patient reviews

What patients say

Google reviews from patients of our Tamarac office.

Google
Emily Juliana Castillo Mavarez profile picture
Emily Juliana Castillo Mavarez
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
10/10 with the staff, the doctor and everyone in the office, everything was so clean and professional, will be coming back soon
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Tomas Rodriguez profile picture
Tomas Rodriguez
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Excelente servicio de atención al paciente. Fui atendido por la asistente Tibisay, la cual me atendió con mucho profesionalismo y dedicación. Estaré agradecido por sus servicios
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Vanessa Rodriguez profile picture
Vanessa Rodriguez
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Muy buena la atención de la Dr. Blanca y su asistente Tibisay.
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Reinaldo May profile picture
Reinaldo May
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Me hice un implante y todo fue super espectacular, la atención de Tibisay y la Dra. Blanca me hicieron sentir tranquilo. Recomendado 100%
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Tom Rodriguez profile picture
Tom Rodriguez
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Excellent service, and the assistant Tibisay was lovely.
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Marianela Perez profile picture
Marianela Perez
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Excelente
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Diana Bermudez profile picture
Diana Bermudez
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Muy buena experiencia , el personal es profesional y atento . Me sentí en confianza en todo momento. Recomendado al 100%
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Tibisay Hernandez profile picture
Tibisay Hernandez
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La atención excelente de parte de todo el personal, en especial de la Dr. Martin muy profesional, ¡bastante recomendados!
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Lieny Arteaga profile picture
Lieny Arteaga
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Great experience at Metropolitan Smile Design!!!
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Gloria Molina profile picture
Gloria Molina
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Me tratan super bien aqui , me hice mi limpieza hoy con Alina, Ella es muy linda siempre conmigo .Todas las muchachas son muy amables aqui
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  • Rated 5.0 on Google
  • English and Spanish
  • Most insurance accepted
Prefer to talk? (954) 322-3865

Told you need a graft first?

Metropolitan Smile Design in Tamarac sees patients from across Broward County. Come in for an exam and X-rays, and we'll show you how much bone you have and what your options are. Our team speaks English and Spanish.

(954) 322-38656510 N University Dr, Tamarac, FL 33321Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM