Bone Graft for Dental Implants in Diamond Bar

A dental implant is a titanium root placed into your jawbone. It has to fuse with that bone to become stable, and this usually takes six weeks to several months.

If there isn't enough bone to support it, the implant may not integrate properly. The implant can be rejected and the treatment can fail. That is why your dentists look at the amount of bone first, before planning how many implants you need and what kind of replacement teeth will sit on them.

Bone can be lost because of trauma, gum disease or the loss of a tooth. Untreated gum disease can reach below the gumline and break down the bone that holds teeth in place. Sometimes a graft is also used to preserve bone right after an extraction.

Bone volume matters even more for larger plans. All-on-4 depends on having enough bone, and when there isn't, a graft is often done first.

Whether you need one is not something to guess at. It is decided at an exam, based on your own jaw.

If a graft is a good fit for you, your dentists will explain the donor options and the pros and cons of each. The four main types are:

• Autograft: your own bone, taken from the hip or the back of your jaw.
• Allograft: bone from a human donor.
• Xenograft: animal bone, usually from a cow.
• Alloplast: a synthetic material, generally made of calcium, phosphorus and hydroxylapatite.

You don't have to choose alone. Ask any question you have about where the material comes from and how it differs from the others.

Your visit starts with an exam in which Dr. Cho or Dr. Jeon assesses the bone available in your jaw. The office uses iTero intraoral scanners and digital X-rays for imaging. If a graft is appropriate, you go over the type of graft material together.

Healing takes time. The practice says full recovery from bone graft surgery usually takes about two to four months, and that the bone is generally fully integrated around the four-month mark. Every patient is different, so your timeline may vary.

Once the grafted bone has healed, you can move on to your implant. See the treatment process and schedule for the full sequence, and risks and aftercare for what to watch for. If dental visits make you anxious, ask about sedation options when you book.

A bone graft is a separate procedure, so it adds a step, and cost, to an implant plan. We don't list prices here because they depend on your bone, the graft material and the number of implants. Our cost page explains what shapes the total.

The office accepts all PPO insurance plans. Whether your plan covers a graft is something to confirm with the office; see insurance for implants.

To have your bone checked, book a consultation at 646 N Diamond Bar Blvd. We are open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. You can also meet our dentists first.