Protect Your Dental Health with Ridge Augmentation & Socket Preservation
After a tooth extraction, it is common to have an additional dental procedure known as a ridge augmentation and socket preservation. This dental treatment is designed to help with the re-creation and natural contour of the jaw and gums.
Why is Ridge Augmentation and Socket Preservation Needed?
Tooth loss can lead to other dental complications, but this treatment method can help you to maintain good dental health and avoid these common complications. For example, extraction, tooth loss, trauma, or periodontal disease might cause bone or gum loss. It is important to maintain healthy density of gums and bones in order to protect your dental health. Even if you are missing a tooth, you should still work to maintain the health of that area in your mouth.
When a ridge augmentation and socket preservation is complete, it fills the area where the bone has been lost. A bone substitute is used to stimulate the natural repair functions within the body, so that the bone is re-built and the socket is repaired.
When a tooth is removed from the jaw bone, a socket is left in the bone. In many situations, this hole will heal on its own. But, there are other situations where the bone is unable to heal on its own, which might require additional dental treatments to help the bone heal. If the bone is unable to heal and treatment is delayed, then it might result in a situation where the jaw bone will continue to deteriorate.
Repairing Deteriorating Bone and Gums
In order to prevent the deterioration of the jaw bone, this oral surgery can be used. During the surgery, the gums will be lifted away to expose the bone ridge below. In the area of concern, bone or a bone substitute is filled into the space. You can talk with your oral surgeon before the procedure in order to choose the right bone grafting material for your individual situation.
Once the space is filled, then the incision is closed and you will need to wait to give it time to heal. Typically, the bone will need to heal for at least four to twelve months before it is possible to place an implant for dental restoration. But, there are some situations where it might be possible to place the implant at the same time the ridge augmentation is performed.
There are many benefits to ridge augmentation and socket preservation, and it has been found that this dental treatment increases the likelihood of successful dental implants. For more information about oral surgery, contact us at Oramax to schedule a consultation.
