Alveolar Ridge Augmentation
The augmentation of the alveolar ridge, or the bony ridge of the upper and lower jaws that hold the sockets and roots of teeth, is a process that can help prepare the bone for a dental implant. An alveolar ridge augmentation procedure helps to improve the shape and size of the ridge, so it can better retain dental implant hardware. In some cases where only one tooth is being replaced, it may be done in an individual socket only. Or, bone grafting and augmentation of the alveolar ridge may involve a large part of the ridge or the entire ridge itself.
Alveolar ridge augmentation can help recreate the natural shape of the ridge after the removal of one or more teeth and after bone loss or resorption has occurred. Not only does this procedure help anchor dental implants, it can help restore aesthetics, particularly in cases where the work is done in the front of the mouth.
How Is Ridge Augmentation Surgery Performed?
Ridge preservation or augmentation surgery is accomplished by filling in the empty socket left by a missing tooth additional bone-graft material. The socket itself would fill in and heal on its own, but would also lose bone height/width. The surgery prevents or reverses that deterioration. The bone-graft material can be from a cadaver donor (an “allograft”), from animal sources (a “xenograft”), or synthetically manufactured (an “alloplast.”)
Gum tissue will then be placed over the grafted-in bone and sutured into place. A “barrier membrane” may also be used to create a space into which the grafted bone mass will grow, ensuring it re-attains its former height or width. Barrier membranes are for vertical growth, but some are horizontally placed. If horizontal, it is commonly on the buccal side (facing the cheeks) since that bone must be at least 2 mm thick before an implant can be received.
The healing process may take several months or even up to a year. The time required varies from person to person, and certain factors like smoking or having diabetes can slow down the rate at which bone heals and regenerates.
When a tooth is extracted or lost due to gum disease or another cause, your alveolar ridge will begin to deteriorate. Correcting that problem with ridge augmentation/preservation will allow for dental implants and improve the aesthetics of you smile. To learn more about ridge preservation or augmentation, in Quezon City, contact our Quezon City Dentist Cosmo Dental for an initial consultation.
