Your Guide to Bone Grafting
Find out what a dental bone graft is, why you may need one before an implant, what happens on the day, and how long it takes to heal.
Urgent help: who to contact
Call 999 or go to A&E now if, after your bone graft, a lot of swelling spreads to your neck or eye area, or you find it hard to breathe or swallow.
Contact your dental team if you develop a high temperature (above 38°C). If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.
What is a dental bone graft?
A bone graft is an operation that adds bone where bone has been lost from the jaw. It makes the bone bigger or denser.
After a tooth is taken out, the bone around it slowly shrinks over time. A bone graft is most often needed to give enough bone to hold a dental implant.
Graft material can come from different places:
- your own bone (autograft)
- donated bone from a bone bank that has been processed (allograft)
- mineral that comes from animals (xenograft)
- man-made (synthetic) material
Your dentist will explain which type they advise and why.
Why might I need a bone graft?
You may be offered a bone graft if:
- You have lost bone where a tooth was taken out, and you want an implant there
- Gum disease has caused a lot of bone loss around your teeth
- The bone where the implant will go is too narrow, shallow or thin to hold an implant safely without a graft first
- A tooth is being taken out, and a graft is placed straight away to help keep the socket (socket preservation)
What happens during the graft?
A bone graft is a minor operation. It is done with a numbing injection (local anaesthetic):
- The area is fully numbed.
- A small cut is made in the gum to reach the bone.
- The graft material is placed and shaped to fill the gap.
- Often, a thin sheet (collagen membrane) is placed over the graft. This protects it while it heals.
- The gum is carefully stitched closed.
A bone graft takes several months to heal. Most often, the implant is placed 3–6 months after the graft. This gives enough time for new bone to form.
Risks and possible complications
Common:
- Swelling, bruising and soreness for 5–10 days after surgery
- Some bleeding at first
Uncommon:
- Infection where the graft is. You may need antibiotics. Rarely, the graft material has to be removed.
- The body breaks down some of the graft (partial resorption). This can happen before new bone has fully formed.
- The graft fails. In a small number of cases, the graft does not join with the bone. A second try may be possible.
Rare:
- The thin sheet (membrane) shows through the gum before healing is complete
- Tingling or a change in feeling in the area, from the nerve
Smoking greatly raises the risk that the graft fails. Many clinicians advise people who smoke to quit. If you cannot quit, they advise you to stop for at least several weeks before and after the operation.
After your bone graft
- Take all your prescribed medicines as you have been told.
- Hold a cold pack on your cheek in the first few hours. This helps with swelling.
- Eat soft foods.
- Do not press on the grafted area.
- Do not poke the area with your tongue or fingers.
- Go to your review appointment so your surgeon can check how it is healing.
- Do not smoke for as long as you can. It is best to stop completely.
- After the healing time, you will have another scan or X-ray. This checks the new bone before your implant is planned.
Questions to ask your dental team
- What type of graft material will you use, and why?
- How long will I need to wait before the implant can go in?
- How likely is the graft to work in my case?
- How will we know the graft has worked before going ahead with the implant?
This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. It is intended to support — not replace — the discussion with your dental team about your individual options, risks, and treatment plan. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances. Your dental team will confirm exact fees and what is suitable for your specific circumstances before you agree to any treatment.
Sources
- Crowns, Fixed Bridges and Dental Implants: Guidelines. British Society for Restorative Dentistry, 2013.
- Dental implants. Oral Health Foundation.
Links checked 18 October 2026.
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