Bone Grafting in McIntosh
A tooth gets pulled, and the plan is to replace it with an implant later. Months pass, and when the time comes, the jawbone in that spot has thinned out. That is one of the most common reasons McIntosh patients end up in our chairs talking about bone grafting — not because anything went wrong, but because bone that no longer supports a tooth root gradually shrinks away. Grafting rebuilds that foundation so a dental implant, a bridge, or a denture has something solid to work with.
Bone grafting is a procedure that adds volume and density to an area of the jaw where bone has been lost. The graft material acts as a scaffold. Over the following months, your own bone grows into and replaces it, leaving behind a stronger, thicker ridge than you started with. It is a preparatory step far more often than it is a standalone treatment — the goal is almost always to make another procedure possible or more predictable.
People from McIntosh come to us for grafting in a handful of situations. Bone loss from advanced gum disease is one. Long-term tooth loss is another, especially for patients who have worn a denture for years and noticed it fits looser than it used to. We also place graft material at the time of an extraction — a socket preservation graft — which fills the empty socket right after the tooth comes out and limits how much the ridge collapses while it heals. For upper back teeth, where the sinus sits close to the jaw, we may recommend sinus lift surgery to create vertical bone height before an implant can be placed.
Candidacy comes down to an exam and imaging. We look at how much bone is present, where the loss is concentrated, the health of the surrounding gum tissue, and what you ultimately want the area to do — hold an implant, anchor a bridge, or support a denture. Active gum infection usually needs to be addressed first, which may mean scaling and root planing or periodontal treatment before grafting is on the table. Smoking and certain medical conditions can affect healing, so we talk through your health history honestly before committing to a plan.
Not everyone with missing teeth needs a graft. Some people have plenty of bone and can move straight to implant placement. Others need only a small amount of augmentation alongside the implant in a single visit. The point of the consultation is to find out which group you fall into rather than assume. You do not need a referral to be seen with us, so McIntosh patients can schedule directly.
What the Procedure and Recovery Look Like
Grafting is done with local anesthesia, and we offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation for patients who would rather be more relaxed through it. We open a small area of gum tissue, place and shape the graft material over the deficient bone, often cover it with a protective membrane, and close with sutures. Most grafts take under an hour, though larger reconstructions and sinus lifts take longer.
Here is what to expect around the appointment:
- Soreness and swelling for the first few days, managed with ice and the pain control we recommend
- A soft-food diet for a short period, avoiding chewing directly on the site
- Gentle oral hygiene around the area, with specific instructions on rinsing and brushing
- A follow-up visit to check healing and remove sutures if needed
- A waiting period, commonly several months, before the implant or restoration goes in
The healing window is the part that surprises people most. Bone regenerates slowly, and rushing it undermines the result. We schedule check-ins during that time so you are not left wondering whether things are progressing as they should.
Costs, Insurance, and Scheduling from McIntosh
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a general practitioner. Coverage for grafting varies — some plans cover it when it is tied to an extraction or a medically necessary restoration, others treat it differently. We review your benefits with you up front and give you a written estimate so there are no surprises. We also see self-pay patients and offer flexible payment plans for treatment that spans several appointments.
Because grafting is usually one chapter of a longer story, it helps that the rest of that story happens under one roof. We place implants, perform surgical extractions and wisdom teeth removal, treat gum disease, and build crowns, bridges, and dentures in our on-site dental lab. For McIntosh patients, that means fewer offices to coordinate with and fewer trips. Our team has practiced in Ocala for over 30 years, and Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris see patients of all ages, including emergency appointments when something cannot wait.