Ridge Augmentation: Preparing for Dental Implants If you are considering getting a dental implant, you will often hear that your gums and jaws' natural curves and contours are damaged. It may be due to a recent tooth extraction or loss of teeth that have occurred previously. Advanced Center for Oral Surgery, Facial Surgery and Dental Implants recommends getting a ridge augmentation procedure, otherwise also known as ridge restoration surgery. This procedure aims to help reshape the natural look of your alveolar ridges so that it may look aesthetically pleasing and increases the bone height so that you can qualify for dental implants.Importance of Ridge AugmentationBone growth and regeneration are directly dependent on the pressure exerted on it. Loss of this pressure takes away any form of stimulation to the bone beneath. Following the extraction or loss of your teeth, or damage to your alveolar ridges, your jawbone begins to reabsorb itself. This can make getting any future implants difficult and can also damage the aesthetics of your smile. Ridge augmentation is a bone grafting procedure that helps in restoring the shape of the ridges so that you can get an implant, which you would not be able to otherwise. Naturally, the bone-facing your buccal wall is thin and will require getting this treatment to be done. How is Ridge Augmentation Performed?In order to increase the quality of the jawbone to an adequate quantity right after a tooth extraction, it is advised you get a ridge augmentation. This will help prevent any severe damage to your gums and jaw requiring a complicated secondary surgical procedure. Before the surgery is performed, an initial consultation will determine your eligibility for the procedure. Once you qualify to get the treatment done, digital imaging will be done to help our dentist determine how much graft you will require and which material will best suit your need. The surgery involves placing a bone graft material into the empty socket and a dental barrier; the dental barriers will serve to prevent down-growth of the gums into the socket. The site will heal on its own once the area has been closed. The healing time may vary according to the amount of area that required augmentation, how invasive the procedure was, and what material was used for the graft - your bone (autograft), a bone from a donor (allograft), a bone from an animal (xenograft), or a synthetic material (alloplastic). What Makes Me A Candidate for Ridge Augmentation?There are many reasons why one may think they need a ridge augmentation. However, there are specific indications for a ridge augmentation which indicate your eligibility for the treatment such as altered arch shape, increase chances of jaw fracture, need for a dental implant, protecting underlying nerves and blood vessels, and decreased alveolar height. Suppose you have previously received radiation treatment, have an autoimmune disease, are an excessive drinker, frequent smoker, and have poor oral hygiene. In that case, our dentist will advise you to change your oral habits or return after a specific period of time accordingly. To understand in better depth whether you qualify for the procedure and how you can take advantage of what ridge augmentation has to offer, visit us Advanced Center for Oral Surgery, Facial Surgery and Dental Implants or contact us at (224) 341-5517. |
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