Bone Grafting in Charlotte, NC

When a tooth is extracted or lost, the jawbone beneath it begins to deteriorate. Without the stimulation from chewing, bone width can decrease by as much as 25% within the first year of tooth loss. That shrinkage does more than affect your oral health — it can alter the shape of your face and make successful dental implant placement impossible without first rebuilding the bone. At our Charlotte office on Randolph Road, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons offer the full spectrum of bone grafting procedures to restore the jaw and open the door to long-term implant success.

Bone grafting is a surgical technique that rebuilds areas where bone has been lost due to tooth loss, periodontal disease, trauma, or a congenital deficiency. Our surgeons — board-certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and members of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and both the North Carolina and South Carolina Dental Societies — plan every case using 3D imaging and computer-guided surgical technology. If you have been told you do not have enough bone for implants, grafting can change that outcome.

What Is a Bone Graft?

A dental bone graft adds volume and structure to the jaw in areas where bone has been lost. The graft material acts as a scaffold, stimulating the body to generate new, natural bone over time. According to research published in the NIH’s National Library of Medicine, bone grafts have become essential to modern implant dentistry, enabling successful placement even in patients with significant bone deficiency. Once the new bone matures and integrates, a dental implant can be placed with a stable, long-term foundation.

Types of Bone Graft Material

The right graft material depends on the extent of bone loss, the location in the jaw, and each patient’s individual anatomy. Our surgeons evaluate every option and recommend the approach most likely to produce lasting results.

Your surgeon will discuss which option fits your case, your health history, and your implant treatment plan during your consultation.

Grafting Procedures We Offer in Charlotte

Different clinical situations call for different grafting approaches. Our Charlotte surgical team performs the full range of bone grafting procedures, from routine socket preservation to more complex augmentation techniques.

Socket Preservation

Performed at the time of tooth extraction, socket preservation places graft material directly into the empty socket before it can collapse. This is the most common form of grafting and significantly reduces the bone loss that would otherwise occur in the weeks following extraction. It protects the site for a future implant and does not extend overall recovery time.

Ridge Augmentation

The alveolar ridge is the band of bone that houses your tooth roots. When a tooth has been missing for some time, or when the ridge has narrowed due to denture wear or trauma, ridge augmentation rebuilds its height and width. Graft material is placed into the deficient area, often covered with a specialized membrane to guide tissue regeneration and protect the graft while new bone develops. Once sufficient healing occurs, an implant can be placed into the restored ridge.

Sinus Lift

Patients missing upper back teeth often lack the bone height needed for implants due to proximity to the sinus cavity. A sinus lift gently raises the sinus membrane and places graft material between the jaw and the sinus floor, creating the bone height required for a successful upper-jaw implant. This is a standard preparatory step for patients pursuing implants in the posterior maxilla.

Advanced Grafting for Severe Bone Loss

When bone deficiency is extensive — due to long-term tooth loss, prior pathology, or significant facial trauma — more involved techniques may be indicated. This can include block grafting using the patient’s own bone, ridge expansion for horizontal deficiencies, or autogenous grafts paired with membranes and biologically active materials. Every advanced case is planned with 3D CBCT imaging to ensure precision and predictability.

What to Expect Before and After Your Procedure

Most bone grafting procedures at our Charlotte office are performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation, depending on the scope of the case and patient preference. Here is what the process typically looks like from start to finish.

Am I a Candidate for Bone Grafting?

You may benefit from bone grafting if any of the following apply to your situation.

A consultation at our Charlotte office includes a 3D CBCT scan that will confirm whether grafting is needed and which approach is right for your case. We also offer bone grafting at our Tega Cay location for patients who prefer the South Carolina side of the metro. Learn more about Dr. Patel’s surgical background and her approach to planning every case with precision.