A surgical method and tool for expanding an initial osteotomy (42) to receive a dental implant (44). An osteotome (22) having a tapered working end (28) is inserted into the initial osteotomy (42). The initial osteotomy (42) is enlarged by simultaneously rotating and pushing the working end (28) of the tapered osteotome (22) into the osteotomy (42). One or more burnishing edges (40) concentrate the pushing and rotational force in outward normal and tangential component forces against the interior surface of the osteotomy (42) to incrementally expand the osteotomy (42) with little to no removal of bone material (46). The inserting and enlarging steps are repeated, as needed, with progressively larger tapered osteotomes (22) until an osteotomy (42) of predetermined size is achieved. Finally, a fixture portion of a dental implant (44) is installed into the expanded osteotomy (42).
