Ridge Augmentation

What is a ridge augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a common dental procedure often performed following a tooth removal to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss as a result of a tooth removal, or other reasons.

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 heal on its own, while healing the previous height and width of the bone will continue to deteriorate, throughout the person’s lifetime.

Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge may be required for dental implant placement, or for aesthetic purposes. Dental implants require bone to support their structure, and ridge augmentation can help rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant.

How is a ridge augmentation accomplished?

A ridge augmentation is accomplished by placing bone graft material in the tooth socket. It is often done immediately after the tooth is removed, to minimize the amount of bone and soft tissue lost during healing. Dr. Domagala may choose to use a space-maintaining product over the top of the graft to help restore the height and width of the space created by the tooth and bone loss, and into which new bone should grow. Once the socket has healed, the alveolar ridge can be prepared for dental implant placement.

A ridge augmentation procedure is typically performed in Dr. Domagala’s office under local anesthesia. Some patients may also request sedative medication in addition to local anesthesia.