Dental implants are a highly effective solution for lost teeth. Crowns mimic natural teeth in their form and function and titanium posts bond with and stimulate your jaw bone, allowing the 
Ridge augmentation is an oral surgery procedure that is performed to fix various deformities of the jaws. The procedure aims to restore the perfect ridge structure - by improving the shape and size of the alveolar ridges. It involves the use of bone grafting to generate bone tissue in the area where the deformities are located.
Why Ridge Augmentation
To prevent failure, dental implants need to be inserted in a healthy and strong jawbone that has sufficient space. Therefore, having ridge deformities can present a huge challenge when inserting dental implants due to insufficient or weakened bone structure. On top of that, ridge deformities can present aesthetic problems by altering your facial appearance. Ridge deformities are, however, treatable using ridge augmentation, a dental procedure that you can receive at Periodontal Associates.
Types of Ridge Augmentation
Depending on the type of dental situation involved, ridge augmentation can be focused only on a tooth socket(s) or involving a large section (or the entirety) of the ridge.
| • | Ridge augmentation involving tooth sockets. Also known as localized ridge augmentation, this procedure is carried out after extracting a tooth/teeth. It involves placing a bone graft material inside the tooth socket, thus allowing it to fill up with new bone tissue that meshes with the existing jawbone
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| • | Entire ridge augmentation. This procedure is performed when a large or entire section of the ridge has been affected by a ridge deformity. The bone graft material is placed in the area where the new bone tissue is needed. It then grows and meshes with the remaining jawbone. |
What Causes Ridge Deformities?
Ridge deformities requiring ridge augmentation can be caused by some reasons. Below are the most common ones:
| • | Dental trauma. A traumatic dental injury can cause damage to the jawbone, and if the damage is not fixed, it can result in the deterioration of the bone structure. |
| • | Improperly healed tooth socket following extraction. During a tooth extraction, the bone structure surrounding the tooth socket can be damaged. The damage can cause the socket not to heal properly, which can then start the deterioration of the ridge. |
| • | Developmental deformities. Some ridge deformities are developed, right from birth or acquired as one is growing up. Still, these deformities can cause significant damage to the structure of the jaws, thus requiring ridge augmentation to fix them. |
| • | Periodontal disease. Advanced gum disease can spread to the jawbone, where it can infect the bone structure leading to deterioration. |
| • | Missing teeth. Aside from the damage caused to the jawbone during extraction, missing teeth can also cause bone loss by removing the stimulation that is needed for proper growth and maintenance of the jawbone. |
How is a Ridge Augmentation Procedure Performed?
The ridge augmentation procedure is a simple procedure that is carried out in a single visit.
On the day of the procedure, you are placed under anesthesia (which can also be combined with sedation) to relax you and ensure that you do not feel pain.
An incision is then made in the gums, around the area where the deformity is and a bone grafting material is placed along the ridge, or in the case of localized augmentation, inside the tooth socket.
The wound is then closed up by stitching together the surrounding gum tissue.
Tooth Socket Regeneration
For the tooth socket regeneration, the procedure is usually carried out immediately after tooth extraction. This helps to prevent the need for a second surgery down the line.
Ridge Augmentation for Dental Implants
At Periodontal Associates, we help to prepare you for the dental implant procedure by using ridge augmentation to restore or maintain a perfect jawbone structure.
Contact us today at (971) 317-8414 to schedule an appointment at our Beaverton, Tualatin, or NE Portland location.
