Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or shrinks. This often leaves a situation in which there is not enough quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these instances, most patients can become good candidates for placement of dental implants with bone grafting procedures.

Today, oral surgeons have the knowledge and ability to replace and grow bone where needed. Bone grafting not only allows dental implants to be placed where there was once insufficient bone, but it also restores functionality and esthetic appearance by replacing missing bone structure.

Bone grafting can repair future implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injury. The bone can either obtained from a tissue bank (donor bone) or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee) and relocated. Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the back upper jaw area.