“It has been estimated that 69% of Americans aged 35 to 44 have at least one missing tooth, and one in four over the age of 74 has lost ALL natural teeth” (American Academy of Implant Dentistry, 2013).“A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is inserted into the jaw to support a replacement tooth or bridge” (American Academy of Periodontology, 2014). Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost one or more teeth due to periodontal disease, injury, or some other reason. Over time, the jaw bone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is resorbed. This often leaves a condition where there is not enough suitable bone for the placement of dental implants. In these situations, patients are not good candidates for the placement of dental implants because the bone base is not adequate to support the implants. Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure. The bone is obtained from a tissue bank or the patient's own bone is used. Sinus bone grafts can also be performed to replace bone in the upper posterior jaw. These procedures can be performed separately or together with implant placement, depending on the patient's general condition. There are several areas of the body suitable for obtaining bone grafts. In the facial region, “Bone grafts can be taken from inside the mouth, in the chin area or in the third molar region. In more extensive situations, more bone can be obtained from the hip or the external aspect of the tibia at the knee” (Aetna, Inc., 2013). In cases of extreme bone loss patients may need to undergo a sinus lift. . The maxillary sinuses are located behind the cheeks and above the upper teeth. The breasts are empty at...... half of the paper ......10 05). Gum graft surgery: indications, success rate and possible complications. (University of Cincinnati) Retrieved February 16, 2014, from Net Wellness: http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/gumdisease/gumgraftsurgery.cfmMurai, K., Takeshita, F., Ayukawa, Y., Kiyoshima, T., Suetsugu, T., & Tanaka, T. (1996). Light and electron microscopic studies of the bone-titanium interface in the tibiae of young and mature rats. Journal of Biomedical Materials and Research, 30 (4). Paiz, J.M., Elizabeth, A., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., et al. (2013, March 1). APA Formatting and Style Guide. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from Purdue Owl: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/Stanford, C. M., & Keller, J. C. (1991). The concept of osseointegration and expression of the bone matrix. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine, 2(1), pp. 83-101.