A dental bone graft is a surgical procedure used to restore or augment the bone in the jaw. It is often performed when there is insufficient bone volume or quality to support a dental implant or other dental restorations.

Bone grafting involves taking a piece of bone from another part of the body (autograft), a donor source (allograft), or a synthetic material (alloplast) and placing it in the area where bone regeneration is needed. The graft material serves as a scaffold for new bone growth, allowing the body’s natural healing process to generate new bone cells and integrate the graft with the existing bone.

There are several reasons why a dental bone graft may be necessary:

Dental Implants: When placing a dental implant, there must be enough bone present to support the implant fixture securely. If the jawbone has experienced significant bone loss due to factors like tooth extraction, periodontal disease, or trauma, a bone graft may be required to build up the bone density and volume before implant placement.

Ridge Augmentation: Ridge augmentation is a procedure used to correct deformities or defects in the jawbone. It involves adding bone graft material to the area to create a more even and natural-looking ridge, which can improve the aesthetics and stability of dental restorations.

Sinus Lift: A sinus lift, also known as a sinus augmentation, is performed when the upper jaw lacks sufficient bone height for dental implants in the back of the mouth. During this procedure, the sinus membrane is lifted, and bone graft material is placed between the jaw and the sinus floor to promote new bone growth.

Socket Preservation: After a tooth extraction, the empty socket may experience bone resorption, where the surrounding bone deteriorates over time. Socket preservation involves placing a bone graft into the socket immediately after tooth removal to maintain the bone volume and prevent future bone loss. This procedure is often performed when a dental implant is planned for the site in the future.

Dental bone grafts are typically performed by oral surgeons or periodontists using local anesthesia, and additional sedation may be used for patient comfort. The success of a bone graft relies on proper healing and integration with the existing bone, which can take several months. Once the graft has fully healed and integrated, the jawbone becomes stronger and capable of supporting dental implants or other restorations.