What Is a Bone Graft?
Healthy bone is essential for many types of oral surgery, especially when it comes to advanced treatments like dental implants. If a tooth has been missing for some time, or if bone has weakened due to injury, infection, or periodontal disease, the jaw may no longer have enough structure to support treatment. In these cases, our team at The Oral Surgery Center might recommend bone grafting surgery as a first step in restoring a healthier smile. A bone graft adds structure back to areas where bone has thinned or been lost. During this procedure, Dr. Justin L. Drab places bone material (which may be synthetic or taken from donor material) into the atrophied area, where it integrates with your natural bone and begins to regenerate its own healthy tissue over time. This process is often necessary before placing a dental implant, but it can also be done to preserve bone after a tooth extraction or to correct loss caused by chronic oral conditions. If you have experienced bone loss due to a missing tooth, infection, trauma, or advanced gum disease, schedule a consultation and exam at The Oral Surgery Center in Greensboro, NC to learn how an oral bone graft can restore structure to your smile.
How Does a Dental Bone Graft Work?
The bone grafting process begins with a consultation at our Greensboro, NC oral surgery center, where we'll examine the health and structure of your teeth and jaw using our practice's state-of-the-art cone-beam CT dental imaging tools. Based on these scans, we'll start developing your personalized surgery plan. There are a variety of commonly used bone graft materials that we may recommend according to your needs, including autograft (bone taken from your own body), allograft (sterilized bone taken from a donor), xenograft (bone from an animal source), or alloplast (a synthetic form of bone made from biocompatible minerals).
Bone grafting is typically done in our office under local anesthesia, often combined with general anesthesia or IV sedation if needed for comfort. Dr. Drab will start by gently opening the gum tissue in the area that needs additional support. After exposing the jawbone, he will carefully put the grafting material into place before sewing the gums closed with dissolvable stitches. Over the next few months, the bone graft will fuse into your natural jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Throughout your recovery, our team will check in with you to monitor your progress and manage any issues that might come up. Once your healing period is complete (typically after 3 – 6 months for most patients), we'll discuss the next step of your treatment, which may include dental implants, jaw reconstruction, or another oral surgery.
What Are the Benefits of Bone Grafting?
There are many different approaches to bone grafting, but they all aim to create a stronger, more stable environment for future oral health treatments. The benefits of dental bone grafting include:
- Restores bone structure lost due to tooth loss, infection, or trauma
- Makes it possible to receive dental implants when the jawbone lacks sufficient structure
- Supports long-term stability of restorations like dental implants
- Helps preserve natural facial shape and jawline
- Improves healing outcomes after tooth extractions
- Allows for more predictable and successful surgical planning
- Lays the foundation for better oral health
The Oral Surgery Center Reviews
My second child to have wisdom teeth removal here. So fast and efficient… I refer them to all our friends. We love Dr. Drab.
The staff is so caring and made sure I was comfortable throughout the whole procedure. I have quite the extensive dental history but I wasn’t nervous at all.
Staff was very kind and made us feel very at ease. My daughter had a hard time just because of the meds, but the staff was very patient and caring.
Outstanding and pain-free!
Dr. Drab, accompanying nurses, and all other employees associated with the Oral Surgery Center, were friendly, caring, informative, and efficient. I would highly rate their services. A note to future patients, make sure you read through all papers they provide, throughly.
258
Total Reviews
5
Average Rating
Support for a Healthier, Stronger Smile
With bone grafting, Dr. Drab can rebuild what has been lost and give you the structure you need for safe, lasting results. At The Oral Surgery Center in Greensboro, NC, we take a careful and customized approach to every graft, using proven materials and techniques to support your long-term goals. If you have been told you are not a candidate for implants or need to restore bone before surgery, we are here to help you take the next step with clarity and confidence. Reach out today to schedule your consultation and learn more about your options.