Ridge Augmentation

What is a ridge augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a type of dental grafting procedure most often performed six months or later after tooth extraction in which the alveolar socket did not have a bone graft placed at the time of the extraction. This procedure may also need to be performed to recreate the natural contour of gums and bone when bone loss has occurred from trauma, infection, cysts, tumors, or other pathologic situations resulting in bone defects. 

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. This empty socket will generally heal on its own, filling with bone and tissue, however, there often is some reduction of both bone height and width during the healing process. Occasionally, when a tooth is removed the bone surrounding the socket breaks and is unable to heal on its own resulting in a large deficit of bone height and width necessitating in a ridge augmentation procedure..

Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge is not always medically necessary, but may be required for dental implant placement or for aesthetic purposes. Dental implants require circumferential bone to support them and a ridge augmentation is often needed to help rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant.

How is a ridge augmentation accomplished?

A ridge augmentation is accomplished by placing bone graft material along the side of the narrowed or atrophic ridge. It may be done at the time of extraction if Dr. Pollaccia determines that the site will be too narrow to accommodate an immediate or delayed implant. It is most commonly done in situations where bone loss has occurred because of reasons discussed above. A collagen or synthetic membrane will be placed over the grafted site and the gum tissue will be secured with sutures. 

Ridge Augmentation procedures are typically performed in our office while the patient is under IV sedation, however, some patients may elect to have the procedure done with local anesthesia.