Bone Grafting

With bone grafting, Dr. Matthew Ficca creates a stable and lasting foundation for a dental implant. He may also perform bone grafting to rebuild areas that have lost bone over time, due to periodontal disease, or as the result of jaw deformities.

Bone grafting is one of the most common treatments that Dr. Ficca offers, with patient needs ranging from simple to complex. A board-certified specialist in periodontics and dental implant surgery, he has spent 20 years helping Charlotte patients improve their smiles and their quality of life.

Dr. Ficca’s approach to bone grafting is informed by his long experience and careful study of the treatment. He only uses regeneration techniques and materials that have a high rate of success. As a result, you can expect durable and predictable results and a shorter recovery.

What Are the Benefits of Bone Grafting?

Bone grafting can:

Creates Secure Platform for Implant

Create a stable and secure platform for a dental implant. With this foundation, your new tooth will be as strong and functional as your original tooth over time.

Restores Sites Bone Loss

Periodontal disease destroys the bone around teeth and bone in the area of missing teeth will disappear over time. Bone grafting can replace what’s been lost, helping to rebuild these sites and strengthen existing teeth.

Fix deformities.

Procedures that remove a significant amount of bone can leave the jaw weakened. A bone graft can return strength to these areas.

Years ago, the only option that patients had was to have bone taken from one place in their body and moved to their jaw. Dr. Ficca uses a more modern approach with medical-grade donor bone, which nearly all of our Charlotte patients receive. When you choose this option, you don’t have to have bone taken from another site in your body, and you can expect to heal more quickly and comfortably.

Am I a Candidate for Bone Grafting?

Dr. Ficca may recommend treatment with bone grafting if you are receiving a dental implant, have experienced significant bone loss around your teeth, or have an area of your jaw that requires repair.

During your initial visit to his Charlotte practice, Dr. Ficca will talk with you about your goals for treatment and perform a comprehensive examination. He will also review your existing X-rays or take X-rays in office. Additionally, he may use 3D imaging technology located in the office, also known as a cone beam CT scan, to get a complete view of your teeth, surrounding tissues, and supporting bone. Based on this evaluation, here are some of the types of bone grafting he may recommend:

Preservation Ridge bone graft

If you are having a tooth removed, Dr. Ficca can graft bone at the same time as the tooth extraction. Once the graft heals, it will create a strong foundation for a future dental implant.

Grafting and implants combined

Dr. Ficca may graft bone around a dental implant that he places to build additional support for your implant and bite.

Ridge augmentation and Sinus augmentation.

Even if you have significant bone loss on the upper or lower jaw, you may still be a candidate for a dental implant. Dr. Ficca can use advanced techniques to establish bone in the area of a tooth that is already missing. Generally, patients wait 4-8 months for this bone to heal, and then Dr. Ficca places the implant.

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What Is It Like Recovering from Bone Grafting?

Procedures take place in our Charlotte office, and we will do everything we can to make your visit as comfortable and supportive as possible. If you are receiving a graft and an implant at the same time, the process generally lasts under an hour. We offer both local anesthetic and IV sedation. Whether you choose to be awake or to sleep, you shouldn’t feel anything and our priority is your comfort during your treatment.

Patients usually follow a lighter schedule in the two to three days after surgery. You may experience some swelling but can manage discomfort with Tylenol® and ibuprofen. If your procedure requires suturing, Dr. Ficca will use a dissolvable suture that won’t require in-office removal.

What Is the Cost of Bone Grafting in Charlotte?

Since Dr. Ficca performs different types of bone grafting, prices vary based on the patient’s needs. In general, it costs less to preserve the bone you have instead of restoring the bone you’ve lost. It’s also a more comfortable approach that reduces overall treatment time.

For example, let’s say you have a tooth that you need extracted. Dr. Ficca can remove the tooth and perform a preservation ridge bone graft, preparing the site for a future dental implant. The cost for the graft will be $600-$700.

Now, imagine a different situation: you have a tooth extracted, wait several years, and experience significant bone loss around the missing tooth. A procedure to replace this missing bone — a ridge augmentation or sinus augmentation– will cost about $2,450. You will also have waited much longer to begin the restoration process.

Dr. Ficca and our staff welcome the opportunity to talk with you about bone grafting, implants, and other treatment options. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with our practice to learn more.

Contact Metrolina Periodontics & Implant Dentistry online or by calling our office in Charlotte at (704) 544-2224.