Alveolar bone grafting and reconstruction procedures prior to implant placement.

Before implant placement, adequate bone must be present; this is a fundamental step in treatment planning for implants. Understanding the basics of bone grafting and reconstruction techniques is critical for successful implant placement. Alveolar bone grafting can be very intimidating when first attempted. With careful instruction, education, and practice, grafting can be accomplished by many practitioners. Different methods incorporate similar surgical principles while leading to the development of more advanced grafting techniques.