Ridge augmentation (jaw bone graft)
A typical case, in 6 steps over 2 visits. Typically about a week of initial recovery; the bone typically develops for 4 to 12 months before implants. Every step names its source.
Not yet reviewed by a licensed clinician. Every step names its source.
Ridge augmentation (jaw bone graft) · Visit 1
Numbing
The area is numbed with a local anesthetic.
Source: clevelandclinic.org
Steps in a typical case
Numbing
The area is numbed with a local anesthetic.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Lifting the gum
The gum is lifted away from the jaw ridge to expose the area where bone is missing.
Visit 1 · Source 2
Filling in the bone
The gap is filled with bone or a bone substitute to build up the ridge.
Visit 1 · Source 2
Protective membrane
A membrane may cover the graft to protect it while it heals.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Closing the gum
The cut is closed and healing begins.
Visit 1 · Source 2
Healing before the implant
The bone usually develops for 4 to 12 months before implants are placed; sometimes the implant goes in at the same time.
Visit 2 · Source 2
Typical trade-offs
| Visits | Typically the graft surgery, then a follow-up before the implant. Source 1 |
|---|---|
| Time to final result | Typically about a week of initial recovery; the bone typically develops for 4 to 12 months before implants. Source 2 |
| How long it lasts | Typically lasts a lifetime once healed, when an implant follows within 6 to 12 months. Source 1 |
| Upkeep | Typical upkeep while healing: soft foods for a few days and no smoking or vaping. Source 1 |
Figures for a typical case from the sources below. A dentist can say how a given case differs.
Questions to ask your dentist
- The typical case takes 2 visits. How many would I need, and what happens at each one?
- What are my other options, including waiting, and what happens if I wait?
- How long does it usually last in a case like mine, and what upkeep will it need?
- Will it hurt, and what can I eat or do while it heals?
- What will it cost me, and will my insurance cover it? Ask which billing codes apply (the typical case uses D7950).
- How many of these have you done, and who would do mine?
Sources
- Dental bone graft. Cleveland Clinic. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21727-dental-bone-graft. Accessed November 14, 2026.
- Ridge modification. American Academy of Periodontology. www.perio.org/for-patients/periodontal-treatments-and-procedures/dental-implant-procedures/ridge-modification. Accessed November 14, 2026.
Osler Press procedure library, version 2026.11.0. Billing codes for the typical case: D7950.