Materials
Bone graft material
Bone graft material is the substance placed in the jaw to help your body grow new bone, and it can come from a donor, an animal, a lab, or your own body.
A dentist or surgeon uses bone graft material as a scaffold. Your own bone cells grow into it over time and slowly replace it. Cleveland Clinic says a provider adds powdered bone grafting material, natural or lab-made, to areas where you have lost or thinning bone. Types include bone from the patient, from a human donor bank, from an animal source, and lab-made material. The choice depends on the site and the plan. A thin barrier membrane often covers the graft. Healing can take months. Your dentist will talk with you about the options and what to expect. See bone grafting and socket preservation, or our bone grafting page.