Implants
Bone grafting
Bone grafting is a minor surgery that adds bone or bone-like material to the jaw to rebuild lost bone, often before placing a dental implant.
The jawbone can shrink after a tooth is lost or because of gum disease. A bone graft rebuilds the area. The dentist or surgeon places bone graft material in the site and often covers it with a barrier membrane. Over months your own bone grows into the graft. Cleveland Clinic says a dental bone graft replaces missing or lost bone in your jaw. Healing time varies. A graft may be done at the time of an extraction, as in socket preservation, or before an implant. Your dentist will explain the plan and what to expect. Read about bone grafting at Town Center Dental.