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.
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.
6. 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.
