Bone Grafting for Dental Implants in Lakewood, WA
One of the most common hurdles for patients in Lakewood and Tacoma seeking dental implants is being told they “don’t have enough bone.” Because dental implants rely on the jawbone for support, just like a house needs a solid foundation, having adequate bone density is essential. At the office of Dr. Kevin Kim, DDS, we perform Bone Grafting to rebuild and strengthen the jaw, making it possible for almost anyone to become a candidate for a permanent, beautiful smile. As a specialized Dental Implant Periodontist, Dr. Kim uses advanced regenerative techniques to restore what has been lost to time, gum disease, or tooth loss.
The need for a bone graft usually arises because the jawbone begins to shrink (resorb) once a tooth is missing. Without the stimulation of a tooth root, the bone can become too thin or too shallow to hold an implant securely. During a bone grafting procedure, Dr. Kim places specialized grafting material into the area of bone loss. This material acts as a “scaffold,” encouraging your body’s natural healing processes to grow new, living bone in its place. Over several months, the graft is replaced by your own healthy bone, creating a rock-solid anchor for a future Titanium or Zirconia Implant.
At Dr. Kevin Kim’s, we utilize several different types of grafting to meet the unique needs of our patients:
- Socket Preservation: Performed immediately after an extraction to prevent the bone from collapsing.
- Ridge Augmentation: Rebuilding the width and height of the jaw ridge where teeth have been missing for a long time.
- Sinus Lift: Adding bone to the upper jaw near the molars to ensure there is enough space without interfering with the sinus cavities.
- PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin): Dr. Kim often uses your own growth factors to accelerate healing and improve the success rate of the graft.
Dr. Kevin Kim uses CBCT 3D Imaging to map out your bone structure with incredible accuracy before any procedure begins. This allows him to see exactly where the bone is thin and precisely how much grafting is needed. By using Computer-Guided Surgery principles, the process is made as minimally invasive and comfortable as possible. For many of our neighbors in the South Sound, this extra step is the key to ensuring their dental implants last a lifetime rather than just a few years.
We believe that understanding the biology of healing helps our patients feel more confident in their care. To learn more about how bone grafts interact with dental implants, you can explore resources from the American Academy of Periodontology or read the Mayo Clinic’s overview of bone grafting for implants. Dr. Kevin Kim, DDS is here to provide the expert, specialized foundation your smile deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Service
How do I know if I need a bone graft for a dental implant?
A bone graft is necessary if your jawbone isn’t thick enough or is too soft to support an implant. Because chewing exerts great pressure on the bone, a graft creates a more solid base to prevent the surgery from failing.
How long after a bone graft do you get a dental implant?
It can take several months for a transplanted bone graft to grow enough new bone to support a dental implant. However, in cases where only minor grafting is required, the procedure can sometimes be performed at the same time as the implant surgery.
What are the three stages of dental implants?
While timelines vary, the process generally involves preparing the jawbone (grafting), placing the metal implant post, and allowing several months for osseointegration. Once the bone has fused with the implant, the final stages include placing the abutment and the artificial tooth.
Is it better to do a bone graft and implant at the same time?
The condition of your jawbone determines the timing; while major grafting requires months of healing before an implant can be placed, minor bone grafting can often be done during the same surgical session as the implant placement.
How painful is a bone graft for a dental implant?
To control pain during the procedure, specialists offer anesthesia options including local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia. Following the surgery, it is normal to experience some temporary discomfort, such as swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding.