How Long Can You Wait Between Bone Graft and Dental Implant?

A dental bone graft is not the end of your treatment, it is the foundation for what comes next. But how long can you safely wait before placing the implant?

The timing between your bone graft and dental implant placement is not flexible. Your body responds to surgical changes quickly, and if you wait too long, you risk losing the very bone you worked to restore. 

In this blog, we will explain the ideal healing window, what happens if you delay, and how Concord Oral Surgery ensures your treatment stays on track.

Services That Support Bone Graft Success

If you have lost a tooth or bone in your jaw, we offer a full range of services to rebuild the site and prepare it for long-term implant stability:

• Dental Implants
• Bone Grafting
• Socket Preservation (Alveolar Ridge Preservation)
• Ridge Augmentation
• Sinus Lift
• Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)

Each of these procedures addresses a specific issue related to bone loss, jawbone loss, or implant treatment planning. 

Socket preservation stabilizes the tooth socket and minimizes bone resorption after tooth extraction. Ridge augmentation rebuilds bone volume lost over time, while sinus lifts elevate the sinus floor to restore vertical bone height. PRF improves the healing period by stimulating bone cells and increasing blood flow at the graft site. 

Healing Time After Bone Grafting

Your bone graft must fully heal and integrate before an implant can be placed. The healing time depends on the procedure performed as well as type of bone graft material used.

It also varies depending on your age, oral health, medical conditions, and whether you follow post-operative care. 

Your oral surgeon will evaluate your progress by checking bone quality, graft material integration, and signs of bone growth using CBCT scans.

What Is the Maximum Time Between Bone Graft and Implant?

In most cases, your implant should be placed within 3 to 9 months after your bone graft has healed. Waiting too long can undo the progress you’ve made and may require you to start over.

Here’s why timing matters:

• Bone loss can start again. Even after a successful graft, your jawbone needs constant stimulation from a tooth root or implant. Without it, the bone can begin to shrink again.
• You may need a second graft. If too much time passes, your oral surgeon may recommend another grafting procedure before moving forward with an implant.
• Delays make everything more complicated. Waiting can mean longer treatment times, higher costs, and more invasive procedures.

Bottom line: Once your bone graft has healed, don’t wait. Acting within the recommended window gives your implant the best chance of long-term success.

What We Do to Keep Your Timeline on Track

At Concord Oral Surgery, we don’t just place implants, we guide you through every step to make sure your treatment stays on schedule and on track for success.

Here’s how we do it:

• We monitor your progress closely. Advanced 3D imaging helps us track bone healing and determine the ideal time for implant placement so you don’t have to guess.
• We plan precisely. With guided technology like X-Nav, we place implants with extreme accuracy, minimizing risk and optimizing results.
• We streamline your care. We coordinate directly with your dentist to ensure your final restoration is ready at the right time.
• We prevent delays. By placing healing abutments during surgery, we protect your gum tissue and reduce the need for future adjustments.

We also make sure you know exactly how to care for the area while it heals, because informed patients have the best outcomes.

Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation in Vaughan, ON

If you have had a bone graft or are just starting to explore dental implants, timing and planning are key. Getting expert input early can make the entire process simpler and more successful.

Schedule a consultation with Concord Oral Surgery to review your options and plan your next steps. Our team is here to guide you with clarity and confidence.

To book an appointment at our oral surgery office in Vaughan, ON, call (905) 669-2616. We are located at 3300 Highway 7 West, Suite 805 Vaughan, ON.

FAQs About Dental Implant Timeline