Bone Grafting Newmarket

Call Us

+1 (905) 836-6111

Treatment Duration

Usually 1 session

Covered by most insurances

Coverage varies by plan — we confirm yours before treatment

Session Length

About 15–45 minutes for a minor graft

Recovery Time

Initial healing in days; the graft matures over several months

Pain Level

Managed with local anaesthesia

Cost per Treatment

Confirmed by your dentist at your visit, after an assessment

Book an Appointment

Bone grafting assessments in Newmarket, Tuesday to Saturday

New patients welcome — call (905) 836-6111 to book

Grafting planned together with your dental implant treatment

Serving Newmarket and surrounding York Region communities

Why Bone Grafting Matters for Dental Implants

Dental implants need something solid to hold on to. An implant is anchored in the jawbone the way a natural tooth root is, and if that bone has thinned or shrunk, there may not be enough of it to place an implant safely or to keep it stable long term. Bone grafting is the procedure that rebuilds the missing bone, so that implant treatment becomes possible — or more predictable — for patients who would otherwise have to go without it.

Bone loss is common and usually silent. When a tooth is lost or removed, the bone that held it is no longer stimulated by chewing forces, and the body gradually resorbs it. The longer a tooth has been missing, the more bone is typically lost. Gum disease and injury can cause the same problem even where teeth are still present.

At Eagle Family Dentistry, bone grafting Newmarket treatment is planned by our general dentists as part of your overall implant treatment — not as a stand-alone sale. That means the graft is only recommended when an examination and imaging show it is genuinely needed, the amount of grafting is matched to the implant plan, and you understand the healing time involved before anything is booked.

This page explains what bone grafting involves, why it might be recommended for you, how healing works, and what to ask at your assessment. If you have been told you do not have enough bone for an implant, call our Newmarket office at (905) 836-6111 — a graft may be the step that changes that answer.

What is Bone Grafting?

In simple terms, bone grafting is a procedure that adds bone — or a bone-like material — to an area of the jaw where bone has been lost. The graft acts as a scaffold: over the following months, your own bone cells grow into it and gradually convert it into living bone that is part of your jaw. Once the grafted area has matured and strengthened, it can support a dental implant the way natural bone does. Grafting is also used in smaller ways: preserving the socket after an extraction, or building up a thin ridge so an implant can be positioned correctly. Your dentist will explain which type of graft fits your case and why, based on your examination and imaging.

Why Might You Need It?

Several things can lead to bone loss in the jaw — and therefore to a graft being recommended before an implant:

Tooth loss or extraction: After a tooth comes out, the bone that supported it begins to shrink. Within the first year the change can be significant, and it continues slowly over time. That is why a tooth extraction before an implant is often planned together with socket preservation.
Gum disease: Periodontal (gum) disease destroys the bone around teeth as it progresses. Even after the disease is treated and controlled, the lost bone does not grow back on its own.
Injury or trauma: A blow to the mouth or jaw can damage bone directly, or damage a tooth so that it is eventually lost along with its supporting bone.
Long-term denture wear: Removable dentures rest on the gum and do not stimulate the bone the way tooth roots — or implants — do, so the ridge under a denture tends to flatten over the years.

If any of these apply to you, it does not automatically mean you need a graft. It means your bone needs to be measured before an implant is planned — which is exactly what the assessment and imaging are for.

The Bone Grafting Process

Knowing what happens at each stage helps most patients feel calmer about the procedure. A minor bone grafting Newmarket procedure at our clinic generally follows these steps:

Assessment and planning: Before anything is scheduled, your dentist examines the area and reviews imaging of your jaw to measure the bone you have and the bone you need. You will discuss anaesthesia options — local anaesthesia is used for most grafts — and any health factors that affect healing.
Placing the graft: The area is numbed, a small opening is made in the gum, and the graft material is placed where bone is needed. The material may be your own bone (autograft), processed donor bone (allograft), animal-derived bone (xenograft), or a synthetic substitute (alloplast). Your dentist will tell you which is recommended for you and why. The gum is then closed over the graft, sometimes with a protective membrane.
Healing and integration: Over the following months, your body gradually integrates the graft with your natural bone. This cannot be rushed — the graft needs time to become strong, living bone. Your dentist will check healing at follow-up visits and confirm readiness with imaging.
Implant placement: Once the graft has matured and provides enough volume and strength, the dental implant can be placed. In some minor cases an implant and graft are placed at the same visit; your dentist will tell you honestly which approach your bone allows.

Benefits of Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

It makes implants possible. For many patients, grafting is the difference between “an implant cannot be placed here” and a workable treatment plan.
It supports long-term stability. An implant surrounded by adequate bone is better positioned to handle chewing forces and to stay healthy over time.
It preserves your jaw’s shape. Rebuilding lost bone helps maintain the structure of your face and jaw instead of letting the ridge continue to shrink.
It protects neighbouring teeth. Filling a bony defect can make the area easier to clean and reduce pockets where bacteria collect next to adjacent teeth.
It keeps your options open. Even if you are not ready for an implant today, preserving or rebuilding bone now keeps implant treatment possible later.

What bone grafting cannot do is guarantee an outcome. Healing depends on your general health, habits such as smoking, and how much bone needs to be rebuilt — which is why your dentist will talk through the realistic expectations for your specific case at the assessment, before you commit to anything. If grafting is part of your implant plan, the consultation for your dental implant treatment is free, and you will know the plan, the healing timeline and the cost your dentist confirms after assessment before treatment begins.

Our dentists are general dentists licensed in Canada and regulated by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. For trustworthy patient information about oral health and dental procedures, see the Ontario Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association.

Bone Grafting Newmarket — Frequently Asked Questions

Patients considering bone grafting Newmarket treatment usually ask us the same honest questions. Here are the answers we give at Eagle Family Dentistry — and if yours is not here, call us at (905) 836-6111.

Why do I need a bone graft before a dental implant?

An implant needs a minimum amount of bone around it — in height, width and density — to be stable and to last. If a tooth has been missing for a while, or gum disease or an injury has thinned the jaw, that minimum may not be there. Placing an implant into inadequate bone risks a loose, poorly positioned or short-lived implant. A graft rebuilds the site first, so the implant can be placed where it belongs, at the right angle, surrounded by healthy bone.

What is the graft material actually made of?

There are four broad sources, and all of them are used safely in dentistry: your own bone (autograft), processed human donor bone (allograft), animal-derived bone — usually bovine (xenograft), and laboratory-made synthetic material (alloplast). Donor and animal materials are carefully processed and sterilised before use. Which one suits you depends on how much bone is needed and where; your dentist will name the material recommended for your case and explain the reasoning before you decide.

Does bone grafting hurt?

The procedure itself is done with local anaesthesia, so the area is numb while your dentist works. Afterwards, some soreness, swelling and mild bruising for several days is normal, and it is usually managed with the pain relief and aftercare instructions we give you. We will not promise a pain-free experience — recovery varies from person to person — but most patients are comfortable returning to light, non-physical routines within a day or two of a minor graft. If pain increases after the first few days instead of easing, call us — that is worth checking.

How long does a bone graft take to heal before an implant can be placed?

Honestly: months, not weeks, and the exact timing cannot be guaranteed in advance. A small socket graft may be ready in around three to four months; larger grafts can take six months or longer to mature fully. Your dentist confirms readiness with imaging rather than by the calendar, because placing an implant into a graft that has not integrated yet puts the whole treatment at risk. At your assessment you will be given a realistic range for your case, and the follow-up visits will track how your graft is progressing.

Am I a good candidate for bone grafting — who should wait?

Most healthy adults who need bone for an implant are candidates. Healing is less predictable if you smoke or vape (nicotine restricts the blood flow grafts depend on), if diabetes is not well controlled, if gum disease is still active, or if you take certain medications that affect bone — which is why a full health history is part of the assessment. “Waiting” usually does not mean “never”: it often means treating the gum disease first, pausing smoking around the procedure, or coordinating with your physician. Your dentist will tell you plainly if something needs to happen before a graft makes sense.

What happens if I just skip the graft?

Sometimes that is a reasonable choice, and your dentist will say so if it is. Skipping the graft may mean a shorter or narrower implant in a less ideal position, a different tooth-replacement option such as a bridge or denture, or no replacement for now. What is not advisable is placing a full-size implant into bone that cannot support it — that is how implants fail early. The assessment exists so you can weigh these options with real information about your own jaw, not guesswork.

Does the CDCP or my insurance cover bone grafting?

Bone grafting connected with dental implants is generally not covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), because dental implants are not part of standard CDCP coverage. Private insurance plans differ — some cover grafting in specific situations (for example, grafting after an extraction) and many do not — so coverage is confirmed against your own plan before treatment begins. With the CDCP, eligibility and coverage are always assessed first, and coverage follows the CDCP fee guide, which may not match the clinic’s full fee. Official plan details are on Canada.ca: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html

How much does bone grafting cost in Newmarket?

We do not publish prices, because the cost depends on how much bone needs to be rebuilt, the graft material used, and whether the graft is combined with an extraction or an implant placement. After your assessment, your dentist confirms the cost of your recommended graft with you at the visit — before anything begins — and explains what the alternatives would involve. You will never be asked to commit to grafting without knowing the plan and the confirmed cost.