When there isn't enough bone to place an implant, the ridge must be augmented to rebuild the original height and width of the ridge and recreate the natural contour of the bone and soft tissues. Ridge augmentation or bone graft is a common procedure to repair an area of the jaw where a tooth used to be, or an area in which there is bone loss. This is often the first step in replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant. If dental implants are to take hold successfully, your jaw needs to have healthy bone to support and hold them securely and to place. To augment the upper jaw. Your doctor will place synthetic bone or sterile bone harvested from another source on the exposed bone, and then suture the gum tissue Once placed, the area is given time to heal. During this time, the graft solidifies and permanently blends into your natural bone tissue. Your doctor will let you know when your graft is fully healed. Once completed, the bone will have regained its original strength and stability and further procedures such as a dental implant can be initiated.