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(716) 772-7500
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info@drkaplansky.com
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8038 Rochester Rd. Gasport NY
(716) 772-7500
info@drkaplansky.com
8038 Rochester Rd. Gasport NY
Bone grafting and sinus lift procedures rebuild the bone volume needed for standard dental implant placement. When the upper or lower jawbone has deteriorated from tooth loss or long-term extraction, a graft can restore the structure required for implant integration. For patients with severe upper-jaw bone loss, zygomatic implants — anchored in the cheekbone — may eliminate the need for grafting entirely. Every plan begins with a CBCT scan and digital planning at Dentistry by Dr. Kaplansky in Gasport, NY.
Dr. Igor Kaplansky, DDS — Diplomate ABOI/ID, Fellow AAID/FICOI/FAGD, ZAGA Center Certified
When a tooth is lost or extracted, the jawbone at that site begins to resorb — it shrinks because it is no longer stimulated by a tooth root. Over months and years, this bone loss can leave insufficient volume to support a dental implant. A bone graft places new bone material at the deficient site to restore volume and density before implant placement proceeds.
Graft material sources Dr. Kaplansky selects from:
| Graft Type | When It's Used |
|---|---|
| Socket Preservation | Placed immediately after a tooth extraction to prevent bone resorption at the extraction site. This is the most common and least complex graft type, and reduces the volume of bone that must later be rebuilt for implant placement. |
| Ridge Augmentation | Rebuilds a section of jawbone that has already resorbed. Used when the extraction was performed months or years earlier and the bone volume is now insufficient for an implant. Healing is longer than socket preservation. |
The maxillary sinuses are air-filled cavities above the upper back teeth. When upper posterior teeth are lost, the sinus can expand downward into the space vacated by the tooth roots — leaving very little bone between the sinus floor and the potential implant site.
A sinus lift (sinus augmentation) gently raises the sinus membrane and places bone graft material between the membrane and the existing sinus floor. This creates a column of new bone in which implants can later be placed in the upper back jaw.
Sinus lift healing typically requires 6–9 months before implants can be placed — a significant timeline commitment. For patients with severe upper-jaw bone loss across multiple sites, zygomatic implants may offer a path to full-arch restoration without any sinus intervention.
| Situation | Graft Likely? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recent extraction | Often recommended | Prevents bone loss before it becomes significant |
| Long-term missing teeth | Often yes — ridge augmentation | Depends on extent of resorption on CBCT |
| Upper back implants | Often yes — sinus lift | Common for upper posterior sites |
| Adequate bone volume | No | Standard implant placement proceeds directly |
| Severe upper-jaw bone loss | Possibly avoidable | Zygomatic implants may be appropriate — no graft needed |
For patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw who are considering full-arch restoration, zygomatic implants offer a fundamentally different path. Instead of rebuilding the upper jaw with grafts and waiting 6–9 months for healing, zygomatic implants anchor directly in the cheekbone (zygoma) — which retains its density regardless of jaw bone resorption. No graft, no graft healing period, no uncertainty about whether the graft will take.
Dentistry by Dr. Kaplansky is a ZAGA Center for Zygomatic Excellence — one of only 11 certified centers in the United States and the only one in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Dr. Kaplansky is a co-author of the zygomatic implant clinical textbook. For qualifying patients, this credential eliminates the bone-graft pathway entirely.
Dr. Kaplansky reviews the CBCT to assess bone volume, sinus anatomy, and implant site viability. The three-dimensional scan determines whether a graft is required, what type, and the expected healing timeline at each candidate site.
Bone grafting is performed under local anesthesia. IV sedation is available for patients who prefer to be unaware during the procedure. Most patients resume light daily activities within a few days.
Socket preservation sites typically heal in 3–6 months. Sinus lift sites require 6–9 months. A follow-up CBCT is repeated to confirm bone integration before implant placement proceeds.
Once the CBCT confirms sufficient bone volume and density, implant placement proceeds. For full-arch cases, the TeethNow zirconia system delivers healing teeth the day after surgery and permanent zirconia at 4–5 months.
Not always. Whether a graft is required depends on the volume and density of your existing jawbone, confirmed by a CBCT scan during your consultation. Many patients have sufficient bone for standard implant placement without any grafting. Patients with significant upper-jaw bone loss may be candidates for zygomatic implants, which bypass the need for grafting entirely.
A bone graft rebuilds bone volume at a specific implant site — most commonly at an extraction socket or in an area of jawbone that has resorbed. A sinus lift is a specific type of bone augmentation for the upper jaw that raises the sinus membrane and adds graft material below it.
Most socket preservation grafts heal in 3–6 months before implant placement. Sinus lift procedures typically require 6–9 months. Ridge augmentation healing varies with the size of the graft.
For patients with severe upper-jaw bone loss who want full-arch restoration, zygomatic implants are often the answer. They anchor in the cheekbone — which retains density regardless of jaw bone resorption — and eliminate the need for grafting in many cases. Dr. Kaplansky is the only ZAGA-certified zygomatic specialist in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
Bone grafting is performed under local anesthesia. IV sedation is available at this practice for patients who prefer to be unaware during the procedure. Most patients describe post-operative discomfort as similar to a tooth extraction, managed with over-the-counter pain relievers for several days.