Bone Grafting

We can only imagine what our bodies would look like without bones. This scaffolding provides support, form, and protection to our organs and delicate tissue. The bone around your teeth, called alveolar bone, holds the teeth firmly in place. The particular height, shape, and density of this specialized bone can be compromised due to gum disease, tooth removal, and other forms of trauma.

close-up of bone graft material filling in missing bone structrure around tooth

If bone shrinks away from your teeth, it never grows back. In some cases, bone can be encouraged to fill in with grafting materials placed by the periodontist. Every situation presents a different scenario, but more options than ever exist to promote bone repair in the jaw. For example, when a tooth needs removal, a large hole then exists in the bone. While it will eventually fill in naturally, the site tends to shrink, drawing bone away from the area and jeopardizing surrounding teeth. Grafting materials can be placed at the time of tooth removal to help preserve the existing bone level. Bone grafts are especially beneficial if you are considering an implant-supported restoration in the future.

Even areas that have already suffered bone collapse can often benefit from specialized grafting material, bolstering nearly any part of the jaw bone. It's important to note that bone destroyed by gum disease often leaves significant defects around teeth. While some of these areas are grafting candidates, many of them experienced irreversible bone loss and compromised support of the teeth. Controlling gum disease with your Kelner Periodontics team will serve your health much better than corrective surgical grafts.

  • We use FDBA (freeze-dried bone allograft), often paired with a resorbable membrane (minimally manipulated amnion chorion allograft tissue). FDBA offers the best integration of any bone graft material, except for an autograft (where a patient’s own bone is used from a second surgical site).

    Other offices may use bovine (xenograft) or synthetic (alloplast) bone material because it is much less expensive. However, these materials do not offer the best chance of success or safety.

  • Bone grafting is often recommended if you’ve lost bone due to gum disease, tooth removal, or trauma. It helps preserve or rebuild bone in areas where teeth have been lost, especially if you are planning to get a dental implant.

  • The procedure is done with local anesthesia, so you should feel little to no discomfort during the treatment. Mild soreness afterward is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.