Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a specialised procedure often performed by our Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to rebuild or strengthen the jawbone. A strong and healthy jawbone is essential for supporting dental implants, restoring facial harmony, and maintaining oral health.

Why Is Bone Grafting Needed?

Over time, the jawbone can lose volume and density due to:

Tooth loss (especially when teeth have been missing for some time).
Gum (periodontal) disease.
Trauma or injury to the face or jaw.
Natural bone resorption after extractions.
Developmental or congenital conditions.

When bone is insufficient, dental implants may not be possible, or the face may appear sunken or asymmetrical. Bone grafting restores volume and strength to create a stable foundation for future treatments.

Types Of Bone Grafts

There are different techniques available, tailored to each patient’s needs:

Socket Preservation – A graft placed at the time of tooth extraction to maintain bone height and width.
Ridge Augmentation – Builds up areas of the jaw where bone has already resorbed.
Sinus Lift (Sinus Augmentation) – Increases bone height in the upper back jaw by gently lifting the sinus membrane and placing graft material.
Block Graft – Uses a larger section of bone to rebuild areas with significant bone loss.

Sources Of Bone Graft Material

Autograft – Bone taken from another part of the patient’s body (such as the jaw or hip).
Allograft – Donor bone from a tissue bank.
Xenograft – Bone from another species, usually bovine, processed for medical use.
Synthetic Materials – Man-made bone substitutes that encourage new bone growth.

Benefits Of Bone Grafting

Provides a stable foundation for dental implants.
Restores natural facial contours.
Preserves oral function and long-term oral health.
Prevents further bone loss.

Bone Grafting Procedure

Bone grafting is usually performed under local anaesthetic, sometimes with sedation or general anaesthetic if part of a larger surgery. The graft material is carefully placed in the required area, then protected while natural bone gradually grows and integrates with it. Healing can take several months, after which dental implants or other restorative procedures may be performed.

At Capital Oral & Facial Surgery, our surgeons use advanced techniques and the highest standards of care to deliver safe, predictable bone grafting outcomes tailored to each patient’s individual needs.