Losing bone mass in the jaw can cause the face to look shorter than it used to. Other candidates for dental bone grafts include those whose appearance has been affected by bone loss. If gum disease isn’t managed effectively, it can lead to further tooth loss and even heart disease. Stabilizing the jaw with a bone graft can help prevent further bone loss and the long-term health complications that come with it. Tooth loss or gum diseaseĮven if you’re not receiving an implant, dental bone grafting may be necessary to support a section of the jaw that has lost bone because of tooth loss or gum disease.īone loss can start to affect nearby teeth and gum tissue. In a 2016 study of nearly 800 people who received implants, more than half of the implant sites required bone grafting first. Often, bone grafting is necessary to provide a strong enough base for an implant. A crown that matches nearby teeth is then placed atop the implant. People who are going to receive implants in place of missing teeth are common candidates for dental bone grafts.ĭental implants are artificial roots shaped like screws that are placed in the jawbone. Here are some of the most common reasons you may need a dental bone graft. Who’s a good candidate for a dental bone graft?