A bone graft is an oral surgery procedure that our periodontist may recommend if your jawbone is not thick or solid enough to provide proper support to the rest of your mouth and teeth. During the procedure, we will transplant a piece of bone from another part of your body to your jawbone. We usually see the best results if we use a piece of bone from your own body, as your jawbone can naturally integrate with the new piece of bone. If necessary, we can use artificial bone material or bone fragments from a tissue bank. When the bone graft is completed, your jawbone will grow with the new piece of bone and become denser and stronger.

We may recommend a bone graft if you have lost teeth and do not have enough bone density to support a restoration, such as a dental implant. Once a tooth is lost, your jawbone begins to deteriorate at the original site. If this is the case, a bone graft is necessary before placing the implant. A bone graft may also be necessary in the case of periodontal treatment, where gum disease has caused the bone to deteriorate.

If you want to learn more about bone grafting and how it can benefit the health of your smile, we invite you to call or visit us today to schedule an appointment.