When you go see your dentist about getting a dental implant, you might learn that your dentist needs to give you a jaw bone graft before they can give you an implant. If you're like most patients, you probably have some of the following questions about this procedure.

Why is a bone graft necessary?

A dental implant is basically a screw that is placed inside your jaw bone. After the implant is placed, your jaw bone will grow into and around the implant, stabilizing it in your jaw. But some people do not have enough jaw bone to stabilize the implant. If this is true in your case, you'll need a bone graft before your implant. Without the graft, an implant may not "take," or there may not even be a place for the dentist to put it.

Where does the bone come from?

In most cases, the dentist will remove some bone tissue from your upper jaw and graft it onto the area where you'll receive the implant. If you do not have enough bone for the dentist to remove, they can instead use cadaver bone, which is bone tissue from a donor. 

How long do you need to wait between a bone graft and implant surgery?

This will depend on the rate at which your body heals. Your dentist will want the graft and the surrounding tissues to be well healed before they put the implants in place. This could take several months to happen. Your dentist will likely schedule periodic checkups to evaluate how you're healing and determine when the implant can be placed.

Will you be awake during the bone graft?

In most cases, the answer is "yes." You will generally be given a local anesthetic to numb the area that the dentist will be working on. Then, you may also be given a sedative, such as laughing gas, to keep you comfortable. Some people are given twilight sedation, which nearly puts them to sleep, if they are really anxious about the procedure. This is something to talk to your dentist about well in advance of your bone graft.

Now that you've had these questions answered, you should be better prepared to have a bone graft. Talk to your dentist if you have any other concerns or quandaries. 

If you would like additional information about this procedure, reach out to a local company like Rigby Dental.