Ridge augmentation is a common dental procedure often performed after a tooth extraction to help restore the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss, either from a tooth extraction or other causes.
The alveolar ridge of the jaw is the bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth. After a tooth is removed, an empty socket is left in the alveolar ridge bone. Typically, this empty socket will heal on its own by filling with bone and tissue. However, in some cases, the bone surrounding the socket may fracture during tooth extraction and fail to heal properly on its own. This can lead to further deterioration of the original height and width of the socket.
While rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge is not always medically necessary, it may be required for dental implant placement or for aesthetic reasons. Dental implants require sufficient bone to support their structure, and ridge augmentation can help restore the bone needed to accommodate the implant and achieve the desired outcome.
Ridge augmentation is a dental procedure where bone graft material is placed in the tooth socket to restore the natural contour of the gums and jaw after a tooth extraction. This procedure is often done immediately after the tooth is removed to prevent the need for a second surgery later. The gum tissue is then placed over the socket and secured with sutures.
A space-maintaining product may be placed over the graft material to help restore the height and width of the space created by tooth and bone loss, providing a framework for new bone to grow. Once the socket has healed, the alveolar ridge can be prepared for dental implant placement.
The ridge augmentation procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia in a dental office. Patients may also opt for sedative medication to help them relax during the procedure.
