Ridge Augmentation

Ridge Augmentation

What is Ridge Augmentation?

Ridge augmentation is a common dental procedure performed to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and bone that may have been lost due to a tooth extraction, trauma, 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, however, as the site heals there can be extensive bone shrinkage within the first several months following the extraction. The previous height and width of the socket will continue to deteriorate with time.

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.

How is the Bony Ridge Rebuilt?

A ridge augmentation is accomplished by placing bone graft material at the site of the missing tooth (the ridge).  Typically the bone is covered with a thin membrane to help contain the graft particles.  Occasionally the membrane has titanium impregnated into the material to help contour the bone graft and to give extra strength and protection to the site. Next, the gum tissue is placed over the area and is secured with sutures. Once the ridge has healed (typically 6 months), the dental implant can be placed. Many patients choose to have sedation with the ridge augmentation procedure.