Short answer
A dental bone graft adds bone or bone-like material to the jaw to rebuild areas that have thinned or been lost. It is most often done so a dental implant has enough bone to hold. The graft acts as a scaffold, and over time your own bone grows into it.
Why might a bone graft be needed?
Jawbone can shrink after a tooth is lost, after gum disease, or after an injury. If there is not enough bone, an implant cannot be held firmly. A graft helps rebuild the area.
Common types of graft
Grafting material can come from different sources:
- Your own bone, taken from another place in your body.
- Donor bone from a human tissue bank.
- Animal-derived bone that has been processed.
- Synthetic bone-like material.
Your dentist will explain which is suitable and why.
Related procedures
- Socket preservation: a graft placed in the space after a tooth is removed, to help keep the bone in shape.
- Sinus lift: a graft that adds bone under the sinus in the upper back jaw so an implant can be placed.
The procedure
- Assessment. The dentist examines your mouth and takes images to check the bone.
- Planning. You discuss the type of graft and what to expect.
- Numbing. The area is numbed, and sedation may be an option.
- Placing the graft. The material is placed and covered, and the gum is closed.
- Healing. The graft needs time to bond with your bone before an implant is placed.
Healing and aftercare
- Some swelling, bruising and tenderness are normal.
- Follow instructions on rinsing, eating and medication.
- Do not smoke, which can interfere with healing.
- Go to your follow-up visits.
- Call the clinic if pain, swelling or bleeding gets worse, or if you have a fever.
Risks
As with any procedure, there are risks such as infection or the graft not healing as planned. Your dentist will go over the risks that apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
- Why would I need a bone graft?
- To rebuild bone so a dental implant can be placed, or to preserve bone after a tooth is removed.
- Is it painful?
- The area is numbed. Soreness and swelling afterwards are common and can be managed.
- How long before an implant?
- It depends on the graft and how you heal. Your dentist will tell you.
- Where does the bone come from?
- It can come from your own body, a donor, an animal source or a synthetic material.
- Are there risks?
- Yes, such as infection or poor healing. Your dentist will explain them.
Next step
To ask whether you might need a graft, read about the clinic's bone grafting service or book a visit. See our guide to dental implants. Wetaskiwin Smiles is at 3600 56 St Unit 101, Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 3T5. Call (780) 396-4040 or request an appointment online.