Is a bone graft needed for an implant?

Bone loss begins within weeks of extraction. After 12 months, the average site loses 25% of its buccolingual width. That resorption rate is why a CBCT scan is the first diagnostic step, not an optional upsell. If the residual ridge meets minimum thresholds, typically 6-7 mm width and 10-12 mm height, an implant can place without grafting. When it falls short, a graft rebuilds the architecture before or simultaneously with placement.

For oral surgeons and periodontists managing implant workflows, the prosthetic outcome depends heavily on what the lab receives at the restorative phase. Inadequate grafting produces emergence profiles that no abutment design can fully correct. That is where the lab-to-clinician conversation matters: Dani Dental's technicians review the pre-op imaging notes when designing custom abutments, because a compromised ridge changes the abutment geometry and the final crown contour.

Graft type also shapes the timeline the lab must plan around. Autogenous block grafts require 4-6 months of healing before implant placement. Allograft particulate with membrane typically adds 3-4 months. Simultaneous socket preservation at extraction shortens that window. Knowing the graft material and healing phase lets the lab sequence surgical guide fabrication and final prosthetic delivery without adding unnecessary wait time on the restorative side.