Bone Grafting for Dental Implants · La Mesa, San Diego
Bone Graft for Dental Implants: The Full Healing Timeline, Step by Step
Not enough bone to support an implant? Dr. Cvetan Mechev, DDS — with 26 years of experience and computer-guided Safecut training under Dr. Luca De Stavola in Padua, Italy — walks you through exactly what to expect, from your first CBCT scan to your final crown.
The Bone Graft Timeline, Step by Step
Every case is unique, but most bone grafting patients move through the same five stages on their way to a finished implant.
Consultation & CBCT Scan
Dr. Mechev takes a 3D CBCT scan to measure your exact bone width. Dental implants need at least 7mm of bone width and 10mm of bone height to be placed safely — if you fall short of that, bone grafting rebuilds the ridge so an implant can be placed later.
Bone Graft Surgery
Using the computer-guided Safecut technique, Dr. Mechev harvests a small bone shell from the area behind the lower molars and fixes it in place at the graft site with fixation screws. This 100% autogenous approach uses your own bone, which reduces rejection risk and supports faster, more predictable healing.
Healing Period
This is the stage patients ask about most — and it's important not to confuse the two healing timelines involved:
Time for the graft site — where the implant will eventually go — to heal and integrate.
Time for the area behind the lower molars, where the bone shell was harvested from, to fully heal.
Re-Evaluation & Implant Placement
Once the recipient site has healed and a follow-up scan confirms the bone has reached the 7mm width needed, Dr. Mechev places the dental implant into the newly rebuilt ridge.
Final Crown & Restoration
After the implant itself heals and integrates with the bone, your custom crown is placed — completing the process from thin ridge to a fully functional, natural-looking tooth.
Horizontal or Vertical Bone Augmentation — Which Do You Need?
Horizontal Bone Augmentation
Widens a jaw that's too thin <7mm (front-to-back) to support an implant. Best for patients whose bone width has narrowed, often after tooth loss.
Learn About Horizontal GraftingVertical Bone Augmentation
Builds up a jaw that's too short <10mm (height-wise) to support an implant. Best for patients with significant bone loss in the vertical dimension.
Learn About Vertical GraftingWhy Patients Trust Dr. Mechev With Bone Grafting
Dr. Cvetan Mechev, DDS brings 26 years of experience and international training from Dubai (UAE), London (UK), Padua (Italy), and Budapest (Hungary). He trained twice in Italy under Dr. Luca De Stavola — first in Padua, Italy in 2022, then again in Verona, Italy in 2024 at an Advanced Cadaver Lab — learning the computer-guided Safecut technique for precise, minimally invasive bone harvesting.
Meet Dr. MechevReal Bone Grafting Cases
See the timeline in action, documented case by case.
Serving La Mesa, El Cajon, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, San Diego & Southern California
8334 University Ave, La Mesa, CA 91942
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a bone graft take to heal before I can get a dental implant?
The recipient site — where your implant will eventually be placed — typically needs about 4 months to heal. The donor site, where bone was harvested from behind the lower molars, needs about 6 months. These are two separate healing timelines running in parallel.
Is dental bone grafting painful?
Most patients report manageable discomfort, similar to a tooth extraction, that's controlled with standard post-operative care. Dr. Mechev's computer-guided Safecut technique is designed to be precise and minimally invasive, which helps keep recovery comfortable.
Can I get a dental implant without a bone graft first?
It depends on your bone width. Implants generally need at least 7mm of bone width and 10mm of bone height to be placed safely. If a CBCT scan shows you're below that threshold, a bone graft rebuilds the ridge first so your implant has a solid foundation.
What's the difference between horizontal and vertical bone augmentation?
Horizontal augmentation widens a jaw that's too thin. Vertical augmentation builds up a jaw that's too short. Dr. Mechev's CBCT scan will show which dimension needs to be addressed in your case.
Do patients travel from Arizona or Nevada for bone grafting with Dr. Mechev?
Yes — patients travel from Arizona and Nevada, as well as throughout Southern California, for Dr. Mechev's Safecut bone grafting expertise and his rare double training under Dr. Luca De Stavola in Padua, Italy.