Alveolar bone grafting is the replacement or enhancement of bone around teeth. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone collapses. Bone grafting is performed to reverse bone loss or enhance bone volume This is especially important when considering replacement of missing teeth with dental implants. . The bone can be taken from parts of the your body, from donated tissues, or from synthetic material.

In the past, implant placement was impossible if too much bone loss had occurred, but advances in bone grafting processes have made it possible for many people to receive secure, permanent dental implants.

A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of your mouth. An incision is made to add bone where the premolar and molar teeth were previously. A small circular shape is made in the bone to access the sinus and the sinus membrane is gently pushed up and away from the upper jaw. Once this is completed, bone graft material is filled into the space where the sinus was previously, the incision is closed and the healing process begins.

Socket preservation helps retain the bone around an empty tooth socket after an extraction. Most of the time, your oral surgeon can perform this bone grafting procedure immediately after a tooth extraction.

When teeth are missing for a long time, the bony ridge that holds the teeth can become too small to support dental implants. A ridge expansion increases the width of the alveolar ridge to make space for implants.