Bone Grafts

A bone graft, or socket preservation graft, is a procedure where bone is added to a tooth socket in order to preserve the alveolar ridge.  After extraction, jaw bones have to be preserved to keep sockets in their original shape. Without socket preservation, the bone quickly resorbs. The jaw bone will never revert to its original shape once bone is lost and tissue contour has changed.

 

Often a bone graft is required prior to placement of dental implants.  If there is lack of sufficient bone in an area where an implant is required, a ridge augmentation procedure can be performed.  This procedure is used to bring back the lost bone after the bone has resorbed and there is insufficient ridge height or width.