---
title: "What Is Bone grafting? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "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."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/bone-grafting
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

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](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/bone-graft-material) in the site and often covers it with a [barrier membrane](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/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](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/socket-preservation-ridge-preservation), or before an implant. Your dentist will explain the plan and what to expect. Read about [bone grafting](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/bone-grafting) at Town Center Dental.

[Town Center Dental can helpBone Grafting for Dental Implants](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/bone-grafting)

## Related terms

-   [Bone graft material](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/bone-graft-material)
-   [Barrier membrane](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/barrier-membrane)
-   [Socket preservation (ridge preservation)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/socket-preservation-ridge-preservation)
-   [Sinus lift](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/sinus-lift)
-   [Bone density](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/bone-density)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Dental Bone Graft: Process, Purpose & Healing](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21727-dental-bone-graft)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)