Bone Grafting

Bone grafting procedures may be done in addition to periodontal flap surgery to regenerate bone which has been lost due to gum disease around teeth and implants. Bone grafting is also sometimes performed prior to dental implant placement in preparation for ideal restorative outcomes.

How It Works
A small incision is made around the gums in order to access the bone that supports the tooth. A thorough cleaning is performed to remove infected tissue and bacterial tartar from the area. A bone graft is then placed into a defect around a tooth or implant to regenerate the bone lost due to periodontal disease. Over the course of healing, the bone graft will be remodeled to regenerate healthy, living bone.

Bone grafting is also performed in order to facilitate dental implant therapy. After a tooth is lost, the bone may atrophy or shrink over time, reducing the amount of bone available to place dental implants. Bone grafting can be performed at the time of extraction (known as ridge preservation) or later to reestablish the normal volume of bone needed to place a dental implant.

There are a wide variety of bone grafting products, including freeze dried bone allograft and bovine products. Our office is equipped to offer Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) to be used in addition to bone grafting products to enhance regeneration and healing. Our periodontists will advise you on the best material to be used for your procedure.