A ridge augmentation is a common dental procedure often performed following a tooth extraction to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss as a result of a tooth extraction, or for another reason.
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 it 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 not medically necessary, but may be required for dental implant placement, or for aesthetic purposes. Dental implants require bone to support their structure, and a ridge augmentation can help rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant.
A ridge augmentation is accomplished by placing bone graft material in the tooth socket. It is often done immediately after the tooth is removed, to avoid the need for a second procedure later. Next, the gum tissue is placed over the socket and secured with sutures. Drs. Brown, Marshall, Scheufler, and Timko may choose to use a space-maintaining product over the top of the graft to help restore the height and width of the space created by the tooth and bone loss, and into which new bone should grow. Once the socket has healed, the alveolar ridge can be prepared for dental implant placement.
A ridge augmentation procedure sis typically performed in Drs. Brown, Marshall, Scheufler, and Timko’s office under local anesthesia. Some patients may also request sedative medication in addition.
home | patient info | procedures | meet us | surgical instructions | referring doctors | locations/contact us | sitemap | disclaimer
Address: 4400 Bayou Boulevard, Suite 44A • Pensacola, FL 32503 • Phone: 850-475-1895
Address: 41A Fairpoint Drive • Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 • Phone: 850-934-2820
Address: 123 Second Street SE • Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 • Phone: 850-269-7550
Address: 42 Business Center Drive, Suite 210 • Miramar Beach, FL 32550 • Phone: 850-269-7550
Address: 297 East Hickory Avenue • Crestview, FL 32536 • Phone: 850-269-7550
Address: 1299 Highway 90 East • Defuniak, FL 32433 • Phone: 850-269-7550
Address: 22623 Panama City Beach Parkway • Panama City Beach, FL 32413 • Phone: 850-269-7550
Oral Surgery Website Designby PBHS 2010©