Bone Grafting

While dental implants are a permanent and attractive option for replacing missing teeth, not all patients can support a dental implant or other restorative device in their mouth without needing a bone graft. If a patient’s jawbone is too thin or soft, the implant procedure may fail. Bone grafting is a fairly common procedure that builds up the jawbone to accommodate the implant.

During the bone graft procedure, the surgeon takes a section of bone from elsewhere in the body (often another area in the mouth), or from a bone bank, and grafts it into the jawbone. A special bone grafting material may also be used. This procedure strengthens the jawbone enough to support the dental implant. Sometimes, the bone graft and implant procedures can take place during the same visit.