Bone Grafting in Provo, UT

What Is Bone Grafting?

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds or augments the jawbone using bone material — either from your own body, a donor source, or synthetic materials. The graft integrates with your existing bone over several months, creating a solid foundation for dental implants or restoring the natural contour of your jaw after tooth loss or trauma.

Why Is Bone Grafting Needed?

When a tooth is lost or extracted, the surrounding jawbone begins to resorb (shrink) almost immediately. Within the first year after extraction, you can lose 25% of bone volume. Over several years, this bone loss can become significant enough to prevent implant placement, alter your facial appearance, and make wearing dentures uncomfortable. Bone grafting reverses this process by rebuilding the lost bone.

Types of Bone Grafts We Perform

Socket preservation grafts are placed immediately after tooth extraction to minimize bone loss. Ridge augmentation grafts rebuild the height and width of the jawbone for implant placement. Sinus lift procedures add bone to the upper jaw when the sinus cavity has expanded into the space where implants are needed. Block grafts address larger areas of bone deficiency. Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Sloan will recommend the appropriate graft type based on your specific anatomy and treatment goals.

The Bone Grafting Process

Bone grafting is typically performed in our office under local anesthesia or IV sedation. The procedure involves making a small incision in the gum tissue, placing the graft material, and securing it with a membrane and sutures. Most patients experience mild discomfort for 3–5 days. The graft integrates with your bone over 4–6 months, after which implant placement can proceed.

Why Choose Riverwoods?

Frequently Asked Questions