Ridge Augmentation

What is a ridge augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a common dental and oral surgery procedure often performed following a tooth extraction. This procedure helps recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss from a tooth extraction, trauma or

The alveolar ridge of the jaw is the bone that surrounds the roots of teeth. When a tooth is removed, an empty socket is left in the alveolar ridge bone. Usually this empty socket will heal on its own, filling with bone and tissue. Sometimes when a tooth is removed, the bone surrounding the socket breaks and is unable to heal on its own. The previous height and width of the socket will continue to deteriorate.

Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge is a necessary requirement for dental implant placement. Dental implants require bone to support their structure and a ridge augmentation can help rebuild this bone to accommodate the dental implant.

How is a ridge augmentation accomplished?

Having enough bone is the primary and most important factor in successful implant surgery. A ridge augmentation is accomplished by placing bone in an area where bone is not sufficient to place dental implants. A small segment of bone is typically taken form one part of the jaw and is transferred to the site where planned implant surgery is going to be performed. The bone is simply secured with small screws and the gum tissue is placed over the socket and secured with sutures. Once the bone has healed, the alveolar ridge is prepared for dental implant placement.

A ridge augmentation procedure is typically performed in our office under local anesthesia. Some patients may also request sedative medication.

How long after ridge augmentation dental implants can be placed?

How is the recovery from ridge augmentation surgery?

How would your Oral Surgeon determine if you are a candidate for ridge augmentation surgery?