Ridge Preservation, Augmentation and Splitting

What is Ridge Augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a common oral surgical 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, 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 is lost. The previous height and width of the socket will continue to deteriorate.

Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge (ridge augmentation) 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.

How is Ridge Preservation Accomplished?

A ridge preservation 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 separate secondary procedure later. Next, the gum tissue is placed over the socket and secured with sutures. Dr. Etess may choose to use the powerful regenerative abilities of PRF, or utilize a resorbable space-maintaining product over the top of the graft to facilitate new bone growth. Once the socket has healed, the alveolar ridge can be prepared for dental implant placement.

Ridge preservation and ridge augmentation procedures are typically performed with Dr. Etess under local anesthetic like “novacaine”.

What is Ridge Splitting?

The alveolar ridge bone is a special type of bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. When a tooth has been removed, this bone begins to deteriorate.  It can also lose density due to natural breakdown from age, or from disease.
Ridge expansion is performed when the jaw is not wide enough or high enough to support implants. The bony ridge of the jaw is increased by splitting the bone with surgical instruments. Bone graft material is inserted and allowed to heal before placing the implant. In some cases, the implant is placed when the ridge is split.
The surgery is typically performed in the office under regular local dental anesthetic like “novcaine”.s