Bone Grafting in Oxford
Jawbone changes shape after a tooth is lost. Without a root pressing into it during chewing, the bone that once supported that tooth begins to shrink — sometimes noticeably within the first year. Bone grafting rebuilds that lost volume so the jaw can once again hold an implant, support a denture, or keep neighboring teeth stable. For Oxford patients who have been told they don't have enough bone for implants, a graft is usually the step that changes that answer.
A bone graft adds grafting material to an area of the jaw where bone has thinned, receded, or been damaged. Over the following months, your body replaces that material with your own new bone, creating a solid foundation. The graft doesn't act as a permanent filler — it acts as scaffolding that your own biology builds on.
We perform bone grafting in several situations. A socket preservation graft is placed immediately after an extraction, filling the empty socket so it heals with height and width intact rather than collapsing inward. Ridge augmentation rebuilds a jaw ridge that has already flattened, often years after teeth were lost. A sinus lift adds bone height in the upper back jaw, where the sinus cavity tends to expand downward after molars are removed. Grafting is also used alongside periodontal treatment, where gum disease has eaten away at the bone around teeth that are otherwise worth saving.
For Oxford residents, this matters most when implants are on the table. We place dental implants, full arch implants, All-on-4, and implant-supported dentures and bridges — and all of them depend on bone quality. Grafting is what makes those options available to people who would otherwise be limited to a conventional denture.
The benefits go beyond making implants possible, though that is the most common reason patients from Oxford come to see us.
- Preserves jaw shape and facial structure, which otherwise sinks inward as bone recedes
- Creates enough bone volume to place a stable dental implant
- Helps dentures fit better by maintaining the ridge they rest on
- Supports teeth loosened by bone loss from gum disease
- Prevents neighboring teeth from drifting into an unsupported space
Good candidates are generally adults missing one or more teeth, people about to have an extraction, patients with gum disease that has affected bone, and anyone who has worn a denture long enough that the ridge underneath has flattened. We evaluate the site, review your health history and medications, and talk through whether grafting makes sense for the outcome you want. If you aren't a candidate, we'll say so and discuss alternatives — including conventional complete or partial dentures, which we make and repair in our on-site lab.
What Treatment and Recovery Involve
The procedure itself is usually straightforward. We numb the area thoroughly, open a small amount of gum tissue to access the bone, clean the site, place the grafting material, and close with sutures. Many grafts take under an hour. If you're having a tooth removed the same day, the graft goes directly into the socket, which means one appointment instead of two. For patients who feel uneasy about dental work, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation.
Recovery is typically more manageable than people expect. Expect some swelling and soreness for a few days, managed with ice and the medication instructions we provide. We'll ask you to eat soft foods, avoid smoking, skip strenuous activity briefly, and rinse gently rather than vigorously. Keeping the area clean matters a great deal, and our hygienist will walk you through exactly how. The longer part is the waiting — bone needs several months to mature before an implant can be placed. We schedule check-ins during that period so nothing is left to guesswork, and because we also handle the implant, restoration, and lab work, your care stays with one team from graft to final tooth.
Convenient, Straightforward Care for Oxford Patients
We've practiced general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry in Ocala for more than 30 years, and Oxford is one of the communities we regularly serve. You don't need a referral to see us for bone grafting, implants, or any of our surgical and periodontal services — you can call and book directly. We also keep room for emergency appointments, which matters when a tooth fractures or an injury occurs and grafting becomes part of the repair plan.
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a general practice, and we welcome self-pay patients. Bone grafting is often one piece of a larger plan, so we provide flexible payment plans to spread treatment over time. Before anything begins, we'll go over the full sequence, the expected timeline, and the costs involved so you can decide with clear information in front of you. Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris see patients of all ages, and we're glad to answer questions by phone before you commit to an appointment.