Irvine residents can access expert bone grafting by Yale-trained, board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn at The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa. Just 12 minutes south via I-405 S. Socket preservation, ridge augmentation, sinus lifts, and implant site grafting with PRF therapy and CBCT-guided precision.
Dental bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds or augments the jawbone using graft material that serves as a scaffold for new bone growth. The jawbone is a dynamic, living tissue that responds to the forces placed upon it. When teeth are present, the act of chewing transmits force through the tooth roots into the surrounding bone, stimulating the bone to maintain its volume and density. When a tooth is lost, that stimulation disappears, and the bone in that area begins to resorb, losing both width and height over time. This process, called alveolar ridge resorption, begins within weeks of tooth loss and can result in significant bone volume reduction within the first year.
Bone grafting addresses this loss by placing biocompatible graft material into the area where bone has been lost or where additional bone volume is needed. The graft material does not simply sit in place permanently. Instead, it functions as a biological scaffold: the body gradually replaces the graft with newly formed, living bone through a process called creeping substitution. Specialized bone-forming cells called osteoblasts migrate into the graft scaffold, deposit new bone matrix, and gradually remodel the area into functional, load-bearing bone that can support dental implants or other prosthetic restorations.
As a board-certified periodontist who has placed over 5,000 dental implants, Dr. Chanook David Ahn understands bone grafting not as an isolated procedure but as a foundational step in the larger treatment plan. Every grafting decision he makes is informed by what the bone needs to support in the future, whether that is a single implant, a bridge supported by multiple implants, or a full-arch restoration. This forward-thinking approach to bone grafting is what distinguishes a periodontist with extensive implant experience from a provider who treats grafting as a standalone procedure.
Different clinical situations require different grafting approaches. Dr. Ahn selects the appropriate technique based on the location and extent of bone loss, the planned restoration, and the patient's individual anatomy as revealed by CBCT 3D imaging.
Performed immediately after tooth extraction, socket preservation fills the empty socket with bone graft material and covers it with a collagen membrane. This prevents the rapid bone resorption that occurs after extraction and preserves the ridge dimensions for future implant placement. Without socket preservation, the extraction site can lose 40 to 60 percent of its bone width within the first 6 months. Socket preservation is particularly important in the aesthetic zone (front teeth) where maintaining bone volume is critical for achieving a natural-looking implant restoration. Healing time is typically 3 to 4 months before an implant can be placed.
When bone has already been lost due to previous extractions, trauma, or long-term denture wear, ridge augmentation rebuilds the ridge to adequate dimensions for implant placement. This may involve horizontal augmentation (adding width to a narrow ridge), vertical augmentation (adding height to a short ridge), or a combination of both. Dr. Ahn uses particulate bone graft combined with a barrier membrane and titanium mesh or tenting screws to create and maintain the space needed for bone regeneration. Ridge augmentation requires 4 to 6 months of healing before implant placement.
The upper back jaw is one of the most common areas where bone is insufficient for implant placement because the maxillary sinus expands downward as upper molars are lost. A sinus lift gently raises the sinus membrane and places bone graft material beneath it, creating adequate bone height for implant placement. Dr. Ahn performs both lateral window sinus lifts (for cases requiring significant bone augmentation) and crestal sinus lifts (a less invasive approach for cases needing smaller amounts of bone). Sinus lift grafts require 6 to 9 months to mature before implant placement.
For larger defects where particulate graft material alone cannot achieve the necessary dimensions, a block of bone may be harvested from the patient's own jaw (typically the chin or the area behind the lower molars) and secured to the deficient area with titanium screws. Block grafts provide structural support and dimensional stability that particulate grafts cannot achieve in certain situations. Dr. Ahn reserves block grafts for cases where the defect geometry requires this more aggressive approach, as the procedure involves a donor site that adds to recovery time.
In some cases, a small bone graft can be performed simultaneously with implant placement. When a tooth is extracted and an immediate implant is placed, a small gap often exists between the implant surface and the surrounding bone. Dr. Ahn fills this gap with particulate bone graft and PRF to ensure complete bone integration around the implant. This simultaneous approach eliminates the need for a separate grafting procedure and reduces overall treatment time. However, it is only appropriate when the existing bone provides sufficient primary stability for the implant at the time of placement.
Bone loss in the jaw is more common than most patients realize, and it can occur for several reasons that affect patients across all age groups and backgrounds.
Time-Sensitive: If your dentist has recommended a tooth extraction, ask about socket preservation bone grafting at the time of extraction. This single step can save you from needing a more complex and costly ridge augmentation procedure months later. Prevention of bone loss is always simpler, faster, and less expensive than rebuilding bone after it has already been lost.
Bone grafting involves complex decisions about graft material selection, membrane choice, surgical technique, and healing management. A board-certified periodontist like Dr. Ahn has completed three additional years of surgical residency training specifically focused on the hard and soft tissues that support teeth and implants, including extensive training in bone grafting, guided bone regeneration, and ridge augmentation.
The most common reason bone grafts fail is inadequate soft tissue closure over the graft. If the gum tissue opens or dehisces after surgery, the graft is exposed to the oral environment, becomes contaminated with bacteria, and is lost. Achieving tension-free primary closure requires advanced flap design techniques that periodontists practice daily. It also requires an understanding of how different areas of the mouth have different tissue thicknesses, blood supply patterns, and tension vectors. A periodontist's residency training includes thousands of hours of flap surgery experience that directly translates to better graft survival rates. At The Loft Dental Studio, I also incorporate PRF therapy into every bone graft to accelerate healing and add a biological membrane layer that further protects the graft site.
Every bone grafting case begins with a comprehensive evaluation including a CBCT 3D scan. This cone-beam computed tomography image provides millimeter-precise measurements of your existing bone in all three dimensions, reveals the location of anatomical structures such as the maxillary sinus, inferior alveolar nerve, and mental foramen, and allows Dr. Ahn to plan the exact graft dimensions needed to support the planned restoration. The CBCT scan eliminates guesswork and ensures the grafting procedure is precisely tailored to your anatomy.
Bone grafting is performed under local anesthesia for complete numbness. IV sedation, oral sedation, and nitrous oxide are available for patients who want additional relaxation. Learn more about our sedation options.
Dr. Ahn makes precise incisions and raises a gum tissue flap to expose the bone defect. The defect is cleaned and prepared to receive the graft material. Small perforations may be made in the existing bone surface to encourage bleeding, which brings bone-forming cells to the graft site. The selected graft material is carefully placed and contoured to the planned dimensions. PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) from the patient's own blood is mixed with the graft material and layered over it to deliver concentrated growth factors that accelerate bone formation.
A barrier membrane is placed over the graft to prevent fast-growing soft tissue cells from infiltrating the graft space before slower-growing bone cells can fill it. This technique, called guided bone regeneration, is essential for predictable bone formation. The gum tissue flap is then repositioned and sutured with tension-free closure to completely cover the graft and membrane, protecting them during the healing period.
The graft site is monitored with periodic X-rays to track bone formation. Sutures are removed at 7 to 10 days. The graft matures over 3 to 9 months depending on the type and size. Once adequate bone volume and density have been confirmed, implant placement can proceed.
Dr. Ahn provides comprehensive bone evaluations with CBCT 3D imaging to determine the precise grafting approach for your situation. Just 12 minutes from Irvine via I-405 S.
Call (714) 549-7030Many PPO dental insurance plans cover bone grafting when it is performed as a medically necessary procedure, such as socket preservation at the time of extraction or grafting to treat periodontal bone loss. Coverage typically ranges from 50 to 80 percent of the allowed fee depending on your plan's surgical benefits. Bone grafting performed specifically for implant placement may or may not be covered depending on your plan's implant benefits. The Loft Dental Studio accepts most major PPO dental plans including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment so you know your out-of-pocket costs in advance.
We offer financing through CareCredit, which provides low-interest and interest-free payment plans. We also accept FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) funds. For more details, visit our Insurance & Payment page.
The Loft Dental Studio is located at 3151 Airway Ave, Suite F-103, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, in the South Coast Metro area. The office is approximately 12 minutes from central Irvine via I-405 S, with easy access from the 405, 55, and 73 freeways. Free parking is available on-site.
From Irvine, take I-405 South to the Bristol Street exit. Turn right onto Bristol Street, then right onto Airway Avenue. The Loft Dental Studio is located in the Airway Business Park on your left. The drive takes approximately 12 minutes in normal traffic conditions and is a straight shot down the 405 freeway.
Dental bone grafts can be made from several different materials. Autogenous bone (harvested from the patient's own body) is considered the gold standard because it contains living cells that actively form new bone. Allograft bone is processed human donor tissue from a certified tissue bank that provides an excellent scaffold for new bone growth. Xenograft bone is derived from bovine or porcine sources and processed to leave only the mineral scaffold. Alloplastic grafts are synthetic materials such as calcium phosphate or bioactive glass. Dr. Ahn selects the graft material based on the specific defect, the planned implant placement, and the patient's individual biology. In many cases, he combines graft materials with PRF from the patient's own blood to enhance healing.
Healing time depends on the type and size of the bone graft. A socket preservation graft placed at the time of tooth extraction typically heals in 3 to 4 months. A ridge augmentation graft to rebuild width or height usually requires 4 to 6 months. A sinus lift graft needs 6 to 9 months to fully mature. Block grafts for larger defects may require 4 to 6 months. Dr. Ahn monitors healing with periodic X-rays and, when necessary, a CBCT 3D scan to confirm that the grafted bone has achieved adequate density and volume for implant placement.
Bone grafting is performed under local anesthesia, so you will not feel pain during the procedure. IV sedation, oral sedation, and nitrous oxide are also available. Post-operative discomfort varies depending on the type of graft. Socket preservation grafts cause minimal additional discomfort beyond the extraction itself. Ridge augmentation and sinus lift procedures generally produce moderate discomfort for 3 to 5 days, well managed with over-the-counter ibuprofen and a short course of prescription pain medication. Dr. Ahn uses PRF therapy at every bone grafting procedure to accelerate healing and reduce inflammation, which patients consistently report makes recovery easier than expected.
Not every implant patient needs a bone graft, but studies estimate that 40 to 60 percent of implant patients require some form of bone grafting before or during implant placement. Bone grafting is needed when the jawbone has lost volume due to tooth extraction, long-term denture wear, periodontal disease, or trauma. Dr. Ahn uses CBCT scans to measure your available bone precisely and determine whether grafting is needed. In some cases, a small bone graft can be performed simultaneously with implant placement, eliminating the need for a separate procedure.
Socket preservation grafts typically cost $500 to $1,200 per extraction site. Ridge augmentation grafts range from $1,500 to $4,000 depending on the defect size. Sinus lift procedures range from $2,000 to $4,500 per side. These fees include the graft material, membrane, PRF therapy, and follow-up visits. The Loft Dental Studio provides detailed cost estimates after your CBCT evaluation. We also offer financing through CareCredit and accept FSA and HSA funds.
Many PPO dental insurance plans cover bone grafting when performed as a medically necessary procedure, such as socket preservation at the time of extraction or grafting to treat periodontal bone loss. Coverage typically ranges from 50 to 80 percent of the allowed fee. Bone grafting for implant preparation may or may not be covered depending on your plan's implant benefits. The Loft Dental Studio accepts most major PPO dental plans including Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment so you understand your costs in advance.