Bone Grafts FAQ's

Also called regenerative surgery, a bone graft is used to recreate bone and gum tissues lost due to extraction or periodontitis (gum disease). If you have periodontitis, you are losing bone support around your teeth, and in order to avoid extractions, Dr. Bobbitt may recommend regrowing the lost bone with a graft.

The goal of bone grafting is to encourage the body to rebuild the bone and other structures that attach a tooth to the jaw. Using certified bone bank materials or bone from the patient's own jaw, bone grafting can increase the volume of bone needed for implant support or repair of a gum defect. After this process is completed, the grafted material will fill in for lost bone and soft tissue until your body replaces it with its own.

Ridge Augmentation (or "Block Grafting") to support implants

After the loss of one or more teeth, your gums and jawbone may become indented where the tooth or teeth used to be. This occurs because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth or implant. Not only is this indentation unnatural looking, it also creates an area that is difficult to keep clean.  In addition, the amount of gum tissue can be compromised, as well. Once tissue augmentation is completed, the return to more normal anatomy makes it easier to clean and maintain the health of your teeth and implant(s).

Sinus Augmentation ("Sinus Lift")

The maxillary sinus often drops down after an extraction--especially in the molar area. Because the sinus is simply a soft-tissue lined airspace, the bone available for Dr. Bobbitt to place an implant can be limited. In these cases, Dr. Bobbitt can improve ("augment") the amount of bone by "lifting" the lining of the sinus and adding bone to support a proper length implant. The procedure is complex, but relatively easy for the patient because there are few, if any, nerves in the area. Occasionally, the Sinus Augmentation procedure can be accomplished at the same time as tooth extraction and implant placement.