Published on August 26, 2021, Updated on July 27, 2022
What is ridge augmentation and how does it work?
A ridge augmentation is a popular dental surgery that is frequently used after a tooth extraction. This technique restores the natural shape of the gums and jaw, which may have been lost due to bone loss caused by tooth extraction or for other reasons.
The bone that surrounds the roots of teeth is known as the alveolar ridge of the jaw. When a tooth is extracted, the alveolar ridge bone is left with an empty socket. This empty socket will usually heal on its own, with bone and tissue filling it in. When a tooth is extracted, the bone that surrounds the socket may shatter and be unable to mend on its own. The socket’s former height and width will continue to diminish.
Rebuilding the alveolar ridge to its original height and width is not necessarily medically necessary, although it may be necessary for dental implant placement or for aesthetic reasons. A ridge augmentation can help repair this bone to fit the implant. Dental implants require bone to maintain their structure, and a ridge augmentation can help rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant. Know more about at Oral Health Center dental office.
What is the procedure for ridge augmentation?
The placement of bone graft material in the tooth socket is used to increase the ridge. It’s usually done right after the tooth is extracted to avoid the need for a second treatment. Sutures are then used to bind the gum tissue over the socket. To stimulate new bone formation, Dr. Banga may choose to place a space-maintaining substance over the top of the graft. The alveolar ridge can be prepared for dental implant insertion once the socket has healed.
A ridge augmentation operation is usually performed under local anesthetic in Dr. Banga’s clinic. Sedative medication may also be requested by some patients.
