​Bone Grafting and Socket Preservation

Dental implant placement requires that the jawbone be as close to its original dimension and position as possible for optimal results. An implant requires a specific height and width from the bone for its support and integration; otherwise the implant surgery may fail.
 
One of the most effective ways of restoring and maintaining the bone after tooth extraction is to do a dental bone grafting and socket preservation procedure. In this procedure, the dentist fills the socket with a special bone grafting material, which will be covered with a special membrane, and then gum is closed using sutures.
 
It takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months for the graft to create enough new, strong bone to make sure the implant will be stable and secure. It is possible that you may also need a second graft at the time of the implant surgery. A successful bone graft allows your jaw bone to be strong enough to support your dental implant. Once the bone graft is complete, the rest of the implant surgery can proceed.