When placing a dental implant, it is important that the jawbone is thick enough and that the bone is dense enough. This is an important factor as the implant has to under go osseointegration (where the implant integrates into the bone and is held stable). As we age naturally, the density of our bone begin to decrease. This natural process can be accelerated through smoking (all forms), by the presence of periodontal disease or when there are empty spaces on the jaw. As the tooth root stimulates the bone, the jawbone will begin to resorb when one or more teeth are missing in the oral cavity.

When dental implants are considered, the dentist will perform a thorough oral examination to determine if the patient is ready to receive an implant. Detailed x-rays are taken to determine the thickness, density and depth of the jawbone at the site of implantation. If there is an insufficient amount of bone, the dentist will recommend a bone graft, which may be of artificial composition, or come from an external donor or the patient themselves.

Even if the bone grafting procedure is spread out over a long period, the implementation is relatively simple:

• After anesthetizing the site, the dentist makes an incision and then secures the bone graft.
• The dentist then covers the graft with a synthetic membrane to hold it in place. This synthetic membrane will also help isolate the area to stimulate the bone growth.
• During the following weeks, the site heals and the graft gradually integrates into the jawbone, restoring volume and density. It is also important to follow the dentist's post-operative advice and, if necessary, to take the prescribed medication in order to prevent infections and reduce pain and swelling.