Graft

A graft in dentistry involves taking tissue from one location and transplanting it to another to repair or rebuild a defect. The two most common types are bone grafts and soft tissue (gum) grafts, and each serves a distinct purpose in maintaining or restoring oral health.

Bone grafts are used to rebuild areas where the jawbone has deteriorated due to tooth loss, infection, or trauma. The graft material can come from the patient's own body (autograft), a human donor (allograft), an animal source (xenograft), or a synthetic material (alloplast). Socket preservation grafts placed immediately after extraction are among the most common, preventing the bone loss that naturally occurs when a tooth is removed. This step is often essential before an implant can be placed. Soft tissue grafts address gum recession by covering exposed root surfaces or building up thin gum tissue. The most common source is tissue from the roof of the mouth (palate), though donor tissue from a tissue bank is also widely used. Connective tissue grafts are tucked under a flap of existing gum, while free gingival grafts are placed directly on the surface. These procedures reduce sensitivity, protect roots from decay, and improve the appearance of the smile.

For practice management, grafting procedures require careful treatment planning and clear patient communication about timelines. Most grafts need several months to heal before the next phase of treatment can begin. Accurate documentation of the graft type, material used, and site location is critical for insurance claims, as coding errors on graft procedures are a common source of claim denials.