Building the Foundation
for Your New Smile
Dental implants need healthy bone to succeed. When bone has been lost to extraction, gum disease, or time, Dr. Jan Bublik uses advanced surgical techniques — bone grafting, sinus lifts, and ridge augmentation — to rebuild the foundation your smile deserves.
📞 Schedule a Consultation 715-391-3080The Foundation That Makes Implants Possible
When a tooth is lost, the jawbone that once supported it begins to shrink — a process called resorption. Without adequate bone volume, dental implants cannot be placed safely. Bone regeneration procedures restore that lost volume so your implant journey can begin.
Why Jawbone Is Lost — And Why It Matters
Bone loss is more common than most patients realize, and it progresses silently over time. Understanding the cause helps you take action before options become limited.
Tooth Extraction
Bone loss begins within weeks of extraction. After one year, up to 25% of bone width is lost. After several years, the loss can be severe.
Gum Disease
Advanced periodontal disease destroys the bone supporting your teeth — often the primary reason teeth are lost in the first place.
Dentures
Removable dentures sit on the gum surface and do not stimulate bone. Bone loss continues and accelerates under dentures over time.
Trauma or Injury
Facial injuries, failed root canals, and jaw infections can all destroy bone in the affected area.
Three Procedures That Restore Your Options
Dr. Bublik performs all three major bone regeneration procedures in-office, using advanced 3D imaging to plan each case with precision.
Bone Grafting
Rebuilding lost jawbone to support dental implants
A bone graft places new bone material into an area where bone has been lost. Over time — typically 3–6 months — your body integrates the graft material with your existing bone, creating a stronger, denser foundation for implant placement.
Bone grafts are often placed at the time of tooth extraction (socket preservation graft) to prevent bone loss before it starts — dramatically simplifying future implant placement. They can also be placed months or years after extraction to rebuild lost volume.
Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation)
Creating bone volume in the upper jaw when the sinus is too close
In the upper back jaw, the maxillary sinus sits directly above the molar roots. When upper teeth are lost, the sinus can expand downward into the space — leaving insufficient bone height for implants. A sinus lift gently elevates the sinus membrane and places bone graft material in the new space created.
This procedure is one of the most commonly performed pre-implant surgeries worldwide. Dr. Bublik performs both lateral window and crestal (internal) sinus lift techniques depending on the amount of bone augmentation needed.
Ridge Augmentation
Restoring the natural shape of the jaw after tooth loss
After tooth extraction, the ridge of bone and gum that held the tooth can collapse inward, creating a sunken or uneven appearance. Ridge augmentation rebuilds this contour using bone graft material, restoring both the volume needed for implants and the natural aesthetic profile of the gumline.
This procedure is particularly important for implants in visible areas — front teeth — where the shape of the surrounding gum and bone directly impacts how natural your final restoration looks.
Types of Bone Graft Material
Not all bone graft material is the same. Dr. Bublik selects the most appropriate material for each patient's situation — balancing integration quality, availability, and patient preference.
Autograft (Your Own Bone)
Bone harvested from another site in your body — chin, jaw, or hip. The gold standard for integration, but requires a second surgical site.
Allograft (Donor Bone)
Processed human bone from a tissue bank. Rigorously tested and sterilized. Widely used and highly effective — eliminates a second harvest site.
Xenograft (Animal-Derived)
Typically bovine (cow) bone processed to remove all organic material, leaving a mineral scaffold. Excellent long-term stability.
Alloplast (Synthetic)
Man-made materials such as hydroxyapatite or calcium phosphate. No biological source concerns — good option for patients with specific preferences.
From Bone Regeneration to Your Final Implant
Bone regeneration is a step in a larger journey — not the destination. Here's how it fits into the complete implant process at Bublik Dental.
3D Evaluation & Diagnosis
CBCT cone beam imaging maps your bone volume, sinus anatomy, and nerve positions precisely. Dr. Bublik determines exactly which procedure is needed, where, and how much graft material is required.
Bone Regeneration Surgery
The grafting or augmentation procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation options. Most procedures take 45–90 minutes. You go home the same day with aftercare instructions and medications.
Healing & Integration
Over the following 3–9 months, your body integrates the graft material with your natural bone. Follow-up imaging confirms the graft has matured and is ready for implant placement.
Implant Placement
With adequate bone now in place, implants are placed into the newly regenerated bone. The implant timeline from this point is standard — osseointegration takes an additional 3–6 months.
Final Restoration
Your crown, bridge, or full-arch prosthesis is placed on the integrated implants. The entire journey — from grafting to final restoration — is coordinated and managed by Dr. Bublik's team.
Bone Surgery Requires a True Surgical Specialist
Bone grafting, sinus lifts, and ridge augmentation are surgical procedures that demand advanced anatomical knowledge and precise technique. Dr. Bublik's training as an oral maxillofacial surgeon — combined with his research board position at Argon Dental — means he brings both clinical mastery and cutting-edge material science to every case.
Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon
Hospital-level surgical training in jaw and facial bone procedures
Argon Dental Research Board
Active research role with a leading German implant manufacturer
ICOI Diplomate
Elite implant designation held by very few dentists in Wisconsin
CBCT 3D Imaging
Millimeter-precise planning for every bone surgery case
Bone Grafting FAQ
Don't Let Bone Loss Stop You
If you've been told you don't have enough bone for implants — or if you've been putting off replacing teeth for years — schedule a consultation with Dr. Bublik. In most cases, there is a path forward. Serving Wausau, Weston, Rhinelander, Stevens Point, and all of central Wisconsin.
2620 Stewart Ave, Suite 218, Wausau, WI 54401