Bone Grafting in Caldwell and Florham Park, NJ

Reinforcing Your Smile’s Foundation

Losing teeth or bone in your jaw can leave you feeling self-conscious about your smile. But dentists like Dr. Jacobs, Dr. Kirsch and Dr. Levin at the NJ Center for Oral Surgery are skilled in bone grafting — a procedure that helps regrow lost jawbone.

With convenient office locations in Caldwell and Florham Park, NJ, we help patients get back to confidently sharing their smiles again. Call our Caldwell office at 973-226-8444 or our Florham Park office at 973-261-8444 today to get started on your journey to a stronger smile.

What Is Bone Grafting?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that places new bone or bone-like materials in areas where bone has been lost. This helps regrow the jawbone so it can support dental implants or other restorations.

Reasons for Needing a Bone Graft

There are several reasons you may need a bone graft before getting implants or other dental work:

Tooth Extraction: Removing one or more teeth can leave empty sockets in the jawbone that need to be filled.
Gum Disease: Periodontal disease damages the bones that support teeth.
Injury or Trauma: Accidents that fracture the jaw or facial bones can require bone grafting.
Defects From Birth: Some people are born missing areas of jawbone.
Insufficient Bone: There may not be enough natural bone density or volume for the implant.

Types of Bone Grafts

The NJ Center for Oral Surgery offers all types of bone grafts to meet each patient’s unique needs:

Autograft: Your bone from another area, like the chin or hip. This is the “gold standard” graft option.
Allograft: Cadaver bone is typically obtained from a bone bank.
Xenograft: Cow or pig bone treated to remove cells.
Alloplast: A synthetic bone substitute like hydroxyapatite.
Demineralized Bone Matrix: Protein from donated bone that stimulates growth.

The Benefits of Bone Grafting

Bone grafting has many advantages for restoring oral health, including:

Allows for successful implant placement by rebuilding the jawbone.
Prevents implant failure by providing a solid bone foundation.
Improves aesthetics by filling out facial contours affected by bone loss.
Restores chewing function once new bone integrates.
Reduces the need for removable dentures.
Stops progressive bone loss when treating gum disease.
Can be combined with soft tissue grafts for optimal results.

The Bone Grafting Procedure

Preparing for Surgery

Before your bone grafting procedure, you’ll meet with your oral surgeon to discuss your treatment plan. They’ll take x-rays and scans to fully visualize the bone deficit area. You’ll also receive instructions to prepare for surgery, such as adjusting any medications you take.

Bone Grafting Surgery

On the day of your surgery, you’ll receive a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. Our oral surgeon will make small incisions in your gums and expose the area of the jawbone being rebuilt. After precisely shaping the bone graft material, we’ll place it into the defect and suture it.

Recovering After Surgery

After your bone graft surgery, you’ll be observed for a short period before going home to begin healing. Temporary soft food diet, pain management, and activity restrictions will allow proper graft integration over four to 12 months. Our New Jersey oral surgeons will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress.

Recovering After Your Bone Graft

While bone grafting may only take a couple of hours, recovering takes patience over several months. Here’s what to expect:

Early Healing Stage: For the first week after your bone graft, you’ll have some swelling, bruising, and discomfort that can be managed with medication. Your diet will consist of soft foods until the stitches dissolve. Avoid strenuous activity during initial healing.
Bone Integration Stage: Over the next three to six months, new blood vessels will grow into the grafted bone. You’ll gradually regain sensation as the graft incorporates into your jawbone. Follow any diet or activity guidelines from your surgeon.
Maturation Stage: It takes four to 12 months for the grafted bone to fully fuse and remodel with your existing jawbone. Density and volume will continue improving during this time. Regular checkups will monitor your progress.

Once your bone graft has fully integrated and matured, your jaw will be ready for implants, bridges, dentures, or other dental restorations. With healthy regenerated bone, these treatments will be successful and long-lasting. Patience through the healing stages is crucial, but the payoff is a naturally strong, functional foundation for your smile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need a bone graft?

Your dentist will evaluate the health of your jawbone through dental exams, X-rays, and CT scans of the area. If these reveal bone loss or a lack of bone volume, a graft will likely be recommended before further treatment, like dental implants. The graft fills in deficits and allows implants or other restorations to integrate optimally.

How long do I have to wait until full activity after a bone graft?

Avoid strenuous exercise for the first week to reduce bleeding risks. After two weeks, you can return to light activity as long as it’s comfortable. By six weeks, higher-impact exercise can usually be resumed. Returning to contact sports or heavy lifting should wait at least three to four months. Full bone maturation takes up to a year, at which point no activity restrictions remain.

How painful is bone grafting?

There is some discomfort after surgery that can be managed with prescription pain medication. The grafted area will be sore during the initial healing phase. Swelling and sensitivity around the graft last several weeks but continuously improve. Within a couple of months, postoperative discomfort fully subsides.

Are there risks or complications with bone grafts?

As with any surgery, there are some risks, like excessive bleeding, infection, and graft failure. Choosing an experienced surgeon minimizes risks. Following all postoperative instructions lowers the chances of complications. Once healed, your restored jawbone will be a stable platform for further oral health treatments.

Choose Bone Grafting with Confidence

If you’ve lost jawbone volume or density, bone grafting can help rebuild a solid foundation for dental implants or other tooth replacements. The skilled oral surgeons at NJ Center for Oral Surgery offer the latest grafting options to fit your needs.

With two convenient office locations in Caldwell and Florham Park, NJ, we make restoring your health and confidence with bone grafting easy. Schedule a consultation by calling our Caldwell office at 973-226-8444 or our Florham Park office at 973-261-8444 to learn more about renewing your smile.