Dental bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds lost or insufficient jawbone, creating the stable foundation required for successful dental implant placement and the structural support needed to repair defects from trauma, infection, or congenital conditions. Bone loss is one of the most common reasons patients are told they cannot receive implants — it occurs naturally after tooth extraction, accelerates with long-term denture wear, and can result from periodontal disease, injury, or pathology. Modern bone grafting techniques restore that lost foundation, using either the patient’s own bone or biocompatible graft materials to stimulate new bone growth in the precise area where it is needed.
Dr. David Salehani is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with the rare distinction of holding both a DDS and an MD — dental and medical degrees that provide a complete understanding of the bone biology, vascular anatomy, and surgical technique required for predictable bone grafting outcomes. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery with honors from State University of New York at Stony Brook, his Doctor of Medicine from Stony Brook School of Medicine, and completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center followed by a general surgery internship at Stony Brook University Hospital. Dr. Salehani serves as faculty at UCLA Medical Center, has held a seat on the peer review board of the Los Angeles Dental Society for over seven years, and is past president of the Beverly Hills Academy of Dentistry — credentials that reflect the depth of training required for both routine and complex grafting cases.
Types of Dental Bone Grafting Procedures
- Socket Preservation: Bone graft material is placed at the time of tooth extraction to preserve the natural ridge contour and maintain bone volume for future implant placement.
- Major Bone Grafting: Used to repair larger jawbone defects from trauma, congenital conditions, or extended bone loss, typically harvesting bone from another site such as the chin, hip, or tibia.
- Sinus Lift Procedures: Performed in the upper jaw to elevate the sinus floor and create adequate bone height for implants placed in the back of the maxilla, where natural bone is often insufficient.
- Ridge Expansion: Increases the width or height of a thin or atrophied jawbone ridge to accommodate implant placement when the existing ridge is too narrow.
- Guided Bone Regeneration: Uses biocompatible membranes to direct new bone growth into specific areas, often combined with other grafting techniques for predictable results.
Why Bone Grafting Matters for Dental Implant Success
Dental implants require sufficient bone volume and density to integrate properly and support the long-term forces of chewing — without adequate bone, implants can fail prematurely, shift position, or never fully integrate at all. By rebuilding the bony foundation before or during implant placement, Dr. Salehani significantly improves long-term implant success rates and ensures the final restoration looks, feels, and functions naturally. For patients who have been told elsewhere that they are not candidates for dental implants or All-on-4 due to bone loss, modern grafting techniques often make those treatments possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bone Grafting
Is bone grafting painful?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on the complexity, so there is no discomfort during surgery — most patients manage post-operative soreness with over-the-counter or short-term prescription pain medication.
How long does it take to heal after bone grafting?
Soft tissue healing takes one to two weeks, while the bone graft itself integrates and matures over four to nine months depending on the size of the graft and the technique used — implants are typically placed once the graft has fully consolidated.
What materials are used for the graft?
Graft material may include the patient’s own bone (autograft), donor bone (allograft), bovine-derived bone (xenograft), or synthetic bone substitutes — Dr. Salehani selects the appropriate material based on the size of the defect, the location, and the patient’s anatomy.
Will my insurance cover bone grafting?
Coverage varies by plan and the medical necessity of the graft — bone grafting performed alongside implant placement is sometimes covered under medical or dental insurance, and the practice’s billing team can verify benefits before treatment.
Can bone grafting be done at the same time as implants?
In many cases, yes — minor grafts and ridge augmentation are often performed simultaneously with implant placement, while larger reconstructive grafts typically require a healing period of several months before implants can be placed.
Am I a candidate for bone grafting?
Most adults with insufficient jawbone for implants are candidates — Dr. Salehani uses 3D CT imaging during the consultation to assess bone volume, identify the cause of bone loss, and recommend the grafting approach that will produce the most predictable result.
Schedule Your Bone Grafting Consultation in West Hollywood
To learn whether bone grafting is the right step toward your implant or reconstructive treatment plan, contact Sunset Oral and Facial Surgery at (310) 275-3635 to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Salehani at our West Hollywood office, serving patients throughout Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and the surrounding communities.
