If you are a candidate for dental implants, our periodontal team may consider a bone graft. This is a surgical procedure that aims to replace missing or deteriorated bone with material extracted from your body or a substitute. The bone tissue is able to regenerate if stimulated and provided with the space where it can grow. When natural bone is growing, it replaces the graft material, allowing a fully integrated area comprising new bone.

When Do You Need Bone Grafting

While you may need bone grafting before you receive dental implants, not all patients may get it. If you have minimal bone density, the jawbone may not be thick enough to support the implants. When you lose teeth, your jawbone starts to atrophy over time. The more time you spend without getting an implant, the further the jawbone continues to deteriorate.

Atrophy occurs when the bone supposed to secure and support the teeth is reabsorbed. When this happens, you have poor quality and quantity of bone. When replacing the teeth with dental implants, our periodontist surgically places small titanium posts under the gums and secures them to the jawbone. Therefore, your jawbone needs to be dense enough to offer the support needed for the posts.

A bone graft thickens and widens your jawbone, hence helping support the dental implants. The implants bond with the bone, ensuring a stable foundation capable of supporting the crowns. If there is insufficient bone to work with, it would be impossible to place an implant. Depending on your specific case, we may perform socket preservation, ridge augmentation, or even a sinus lift. These bone grafting procedures serve different purposes and only our periodontal team can determine the right one for you. Otherwise, if you do not have deteriorated jawbone, a bone graft may not be necessary. Come to our dental office for an evaluation to find out how we can place dental implants successfully.