A dental bone graft can get infected just like any other surgical procedure. A dentist can introduce bacteria by not sterilizing tools properly. In addition, if the tissue bank provides grafting material that they did not process correctly, it could start an infection. Poor aftercare could also damage the graft site and introduce bacteria after the procedure. Finally, the patient's overall health determines their ability to fight infection. So, patients with weaker immune systems are much more likely to have problems.