Ridge Augmentation

After a dental extraction, it is obvious the tooth is no longer there. You might not realize you have lost bone mass in the jaw. To prevent bone loss and provide you with adequate support for future dental restorations, our dentists, Drs. Noles, Estes, and Steinhauer at Noles Family Dental in Greensburg, Indiana may recommend performing a ridge augmentation along with the dental extraction.

What Is Ridge Augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a dental procedure that adds additional bone mass to the gum line and jaw. This allows the structure, shape and contours of the gums and jaw to be maintained.

It is important that your gums and jaw maintain their shape and structure if you plan on replacing your missing teeth with dental implants or other types of dental restoration. If the jaw or gums lose their shape and structure, there may not be enough bone to support a dental implant or other dental restoration.

How Is a Ridge Augmentation Performed

Our dentist will cut a small incision in your gums. This allows access to the jaw bone. The bone graft material is then carefully placed on the bone. Our dentist will then stitch the area up.

After the ridge augmentation is performed, it will take several months for the bone to grow to the appropriate height and width so it matches the surrounding bone.

Ridge Augmentation Is Performed as Part of the Dental Extraction Process

When your teeth are removed, the socket, which is a large hole in the gums, is left open. Over time, the area will heal but not before bone mass is lost. Just a few months after your dental extraction, you could experience so much bone loss that you are no longer a good candidate for certain dental restorations.

Adding ridge augmentation to your dental extraction allows the gums and mouth to heal without worrying about bone loss or bone shrinkage. Once the healing is complete, you can move forward with getting your chosen dental restoration.

Performing a ridge augmentation with a dental extraction also reduces the number of visits you need to make to our office. We can complete both procedures in a single appointment.

Contact Us To Learn More About Ridge Augmentation in Greensburg, Indiana

Not every individual who has a tooth removed will need a ridge augmentation. At Noles Family Dental, our dentists will use imaging and X-rays to help determine if you could benefit from a ridge augmentation. We will also consider what type of dental restoration work you may be getting in the future.

Want to learn more about ridge augmentation? Call us to schedule a consultation to speak with our dentist about ridge augmentation. Our dentist will not only help you determine if you need a ridge augmentation but will gladly answer any questions you have about the procedure.