Medically Reviewed by Dr. Bryce Lamer

Bone grafting is a common procedure to rebuild and strengthen bone in the jaw. If you’re experiencing tooth loss or considering dental implants, bone grafting may be necessary to improve your oral health. Explore four reasons you may need bone grafting and how it can benefit your overall dental health.


1. You Are Missing Teeth

When your teeth are missing, your jawbone is not being stimulated, which can cause it to deteriorate over time. Bone grafting can help rebuild this bone, making it possible for you to receive dental implants. Implants are the most natural and durable solution for missing teeth, as they are designed to look and function like real teeth. Bone grafting is often a necessary part of the implant process, as it can help to create a strong and stable foundation for the new tooth.


2. You Have Gum Disease

If you have gum disease, it can cause your jawbone to deteriorate over time, creating a host of other dental problems. Bone grafting can help rebuild the bone lost to gum disease, which can strengthen your jawbone and provide a stable base for your teeth. In some cases, bone grafting may be recommended before other dental treatments like braces or dentures, as it can help stabilize your teeth and improve your oral health.


3. You Have Suffered an Injury

If you have injured your jawbone, you may need bone grafting to help rebuild the damaged tissue. This can happen if you have been in a car accident, suffered a sports injury, or have fallen and hit your jaw. Bone grafting can provide a way to regrow the missing bone, which can help to restore your jaw to its original shape and strength. This can be especially important if the injury affects other dental structures like teeth or gums.


4. You Have Had a Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction can sometimes leave behind an empty space in your jawbone, creating structural problems in the surrounding bone, causing the jaw to weaken and become unstable over time. Bone grafting can help rebuild the missing bone, strengthening your jaw and providing a stable base for your teeth. This can be especially important for maintaining optimal oral health, but paramount if you are planning other dental procedures such as dental implant surgery after your extraction.


Discover the Key to a Strong and Beautiful Smile

You can enjoy a healthy and beautiful smile for years by taking care of your oral health. If you are missing teeth, have gum disease, have suffered an injury, or may have had a tooth extraction – bone grafting can help to rebuild missing bone and restore your jaw to its original shape and strength.