Dental bone graft surgeries are very common. Oral surgeons and dentists routinely perform a wide variety of bone grafting procedures. Globally, providers currently place about 2.2 million bone graft surgeries annually.
Exact surgical steps may vary depending on:
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The location of the patient’s jaw that needs bone augmentation
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The ultimate goal of the procedure
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The oral surgeon’s technical preferences
To understand what typically happens, here is a general overview based on standard clinical practice.
Quick overview
During dental bone graft surgery, the surgeon numbs the area, opens the gum tissue, cleans the graft site, places bone graft material, covers it with a membrane when needed, then repositions and sutures the gum for healing.
Simple surgery timeline
- Before surgery: the surgeon evaluates the site and decides whether grafting, membrane placement, or biologic support is needed.
- During surgery: the graft material is placed into the area of bone loss and protected so the site can heal.
- After surgery: the patient follows recovery instructions while the graft stabilizes and remodels over time.
What Happens During a Dental Bone Grafting Surgery?
1. Anesthesia
Your gum and teeth will be numbed with local anesthetic. If you opted to have IV sedation, your oral surgeon will give you sedative medication through an IV in addition to the local anesthesia injection.
2. Gum Incision
A surgical incision (cut) will be made in your gum to expose the bone.
3. Gum Separation
Your gum will be gently separated from your jawbone. The base of your gum remains attached to the jawbone to maintain blood supply.
4. Cleaning the Site
The area is cleaned and disinfected. If there is a localized infection, it will be addressed at this stage.
5. Placement of Bone Graft
Your oral surgeon will add Vitality bone graft material to the area of bone loss.
Vitality Bone Graft Options Used in Oral Surgery
Compare Vitality allograft sizes for socket preservation, ridge augmentation, sinus lift support, and implant-related grafting workflows.
0.5 CC Allograft
Suitable for smaller socket preservation and focused grafting cases.
View 0.5 CC Product
1.0 CC Allograft
A balanced option for common implant-related grafting and ridge support needs.
View 1.0 CC Product
2.0 CC Allograft
Useful for larger ridge augmentation, sinus lift, or higher-volume grafting workflows.
View 2.0 CC Product6. Membrane Placement
A membrane—purchased from an authorized surgical product supplier—will be used to cover the Vitality bone graft. This protects the graft and promotes healing. Some membranes are resorbable and dissolve naturally, while others are non-resorbable and may need to be removed after healing. Your oral surgeon will determine which type to use.
7. Gum Repositioning
Your gum will be repositioned over the bone graft and membrane to ensure stability and proper coverage.
8. Suturing
Your oral surgeon will suture the gum (stitches) tightly to secure the area and protect the graft during healing.
Optional Additions to Promote Healing
In some cases, your oral surgeon may also enhance the bone graft by adding PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or rh-PGFF-7.
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PRP is derived from a small sample of your own blood and processed chairside.
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rh-PGFF-7 is a commercially available growth factor used to promote tissue regeneration and accelerate healing.
These biologic materials may be recommended based on the complexity of the case and the surgeon’s clinical judgment.
What happens after bone graft surgery?
Recovery instructions are just as important as the procedure itself. Review what to eat, how to reduce swelling, and when to call your oral surgeon.
Read the post-operative recovery guide →