- Maria Rhode, D.M.D.
- Vivien Mesina, D.M.D.
- Sara Siddiqui, D.M.D.
- Jared Levin, D.D.S.
Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts
"You do not have enough bone for implants" is something many patients hear before they find us. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts in Lawrenceville, NJ, Dr. Maria Rhode performs bone grafting and sinus lifts in our own office, so the jaw can be rebuilt and the dental implants placed by the same surgeon, without a referral to an outside oral surgeon.
Why Bone Is Lost - and Why It Matters for Implants
Jawbone stays strong because tooth roots stimulate it. After a tooth is lost, the bone in that spot begins to shrink - up to a quarter of its width in the first year - and long-term denture wear, gum disease, and infection accelerate the loss. An implant needs a certain volume of healthy bone around it to fuse properly and to support a crown for decades. When that volume is missing, grafting restores it.
Grafting Procedures We Perform In-House
Socket preservation graft
Placed at the time a tooth is removed, this small graft keeps the socket from collapsing so an implant can be placed a few months later without a larger rebuild. It is the simplest and most common graft we do.
Ridge augmentation
When a tooth has been missing for years the jaw ridge thins and shortens. Ridge augmentation rebuilds that width and height with bone-graft material so an implant has solid support on every side.
Sinus lift (sinus augmentation)
In the upper back jaw the sinus often sits too close to the ridge for a full-length implant. A sinus lift gently raises the sinus membrane and adds bone beneath it, creating room for implants where molars used to be.
Grafting with immediate implants
In many cases Dr. Rhode can place the graft and the implant in the same visit, shortening the overall timeline. CBCT imaging tells us in advance whether your case qualifies.
Planned on a 3D Scan, Not a Guess
Every grafting case at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts starts with an in-house CBCT 3D scan. It shows the exact height and width of bone, the position of the sinus and nerves, and whether an implant can go in at the same time as the graft. You see the scan with Dr. Rhode and leave the consultation with a written plan and estimate - graft, implant, and final teeth - so there are no surprises later.
Comfort During Surgery
Grafts and sinus lifts are done under local anesthesia, and most patients choose to add sedation - nitrous oxide, conscious sedation, or IV sedation - particularly when extractions or implant placement happen in the same appointment. Expect mild swelling for a few days, a soft diet for about a week, and a follow-up visit to check healing.
Serving Lawrenceville, Princeton, and Mercer County
Patients come to our Princeton Pike office from Princeton, Ewing, Hamilton, Pennington, West Windsor, and well beyond Mercer County because grafting, implants, and the final restoration all happen under one roof. To find out whether you need a graft before implants, contact Imagine Advanced Dental Arts or call 609-896-0589.
FAQs
+What is a bone graft for dental implants?
A dental bone graft adds bone-graft material to the jaw where bone is too thin or too short to hold an implant. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts the graft integrates with your own bone over a few months, creating a stable foundation for the implant.
+Who performs bone grafting and sinus lifts at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts?
Dr. Maria Rhode, a surgeon with 20 years of experience who holds a Fellowship in Implantology, performs bone grafting, sinus lifts, and implant placement in-house at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts in Lawrenceville, NJ - you are not referred to a separate oral surgeon.
+I was told I do not have enough bone for implants. Can you still help?
Very often, yes. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts we take a CBCT 3D scan to measure your bone precisely; most patients told elsewhere that they lack bone can still receive implants after a graft or sinus lift, and All-on-4 is designed to use the bone you already have.
+Does a sinus lift hurt?
The procedure itself is done under local anesthesia, and at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts nitrous oxide, conscious sedation, or IV sedation is available if you prefer. Most patients describe a few days of pressure and swelling rather than pain, managed with over-the-counter medication.
+How long does a bone graft take to heal before implants?
A socket-preservation graft usually heals in about three to four months; a larger ridge augmentation or sinus lift typically needs four to six months before the implant is placed. Dr. Rhode at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts confirms healing with a follow-up scan before scheduling surgery.
+Where does the bone-graft material come from?
Imagine Advanced Dental Arts most often uses processed, sterile donor or synthetic graft materials that act as a scaffold for your own bone to grow into, so a second surgical site to harvest bone is rarely needed.
+What does bone grafting or a sinus lift cost in Lawrenceville, NJ?
Cost depends on the size of the graft and whether a sinus lift is needed; at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts every case receives a written, all-in estimate after the CBCT consultation, and CareCredit financing is available. Our article on dental implant costs in Lawrenceville explains the typical ranges.
+Can I have grafting done with sedation?
Yes. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts grafting and sinus lifts are commonly done under conscious or IV sedation, especially when combined with extractions or implant placement in the same visit.
+What are the risks of a sinus lift?
The main risks are a small tear in the sinus membrane, which Dr. Rhode repairs during surgery, and temporary sinus congestion. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts we plan every sinus lift on a CBCT scan and give you clear after-care instructions - no nose-blowing or straws for a couple of weeks - to protect the graft.
+How do I find out if I need a bone graft?
Book an implant consultation at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts in Lawrenceville, NJ. A CBCT 3D scan shows exactly how much bone you have, and Dr. Rhode will tell you whether a graft, a sinus lift, or neither is needed.
Told you don't have enough bone for implants?
Get a second opinion with a CBCT 3D scan - Dr. Rhode will show you exactly what is possible.