Ridge Augmentation

It is not uncommon for adults to lose bone mass as they age. Part of this is just the normal aging process. Loss of bone volume, especially in the jaw and face, can also occur as a result of missing teeth that have not been replaced. One solution to replace this lost facial bone mass is known as a ridge augmentation. If you are interested in learning more about how a ridge augmentation can help you, Brookfield Oral Surgery is here for all your needs.

What is a ridge augmentation

Bone grafts have been used in medicine for many years to remedy a variety of conditions. A ridge augmentation is a special type of bone graft, one that we often perform immediately following the extraction of a tooth. A ridge augmentation, especially one performed immediately after an extraction, can help slow this bone decay down by packing the socket full of bone graft material.

This is because extracting or losing a tooth can cause serious health concerns if preventive measures are not taken immediately. Your jaw needs all of its teeth to provide stimulation. When a tooth goes missing, the bone around the socket starts to decay immediately. In the first year alone after losing a tooth you can lose up to 25% of your bone mass. This has a real impact on your health and appearance, making you more likely to lose other teeth and causing your facial features to collapse without any underlying structures to support them.

How a ridge augmentation can benefit you

A ridge augmentation cannot actually permanently stop the deterioration of your jawbone, but it can help drastically slow it to preserve the health of your gums and jawline. By preventing immediate and rapid bone loss, a ridge augmentation helps halt premature aging. The only way to truly stop bone loss is with a dental implant. Luckily, a ridge augmentation cannot only help preserve the health of your jaw to make getting an implant later easier, but can also help make you a viable candidate for implantation if you do not have sufficient bone mass. Because dental implants are placed within the jaw, you must have strong, healthy bone density to anchor the implant.

What you can expect during ridge augmentation

Most of the ridge augmentations we perform are done right after we extract a tooth. We fill the exposed socket with your preferred graft material before covering the socket with gum tissue. You will experience minimal to no discomfort, thanks to local anesthesia or sedation methods. Because a ridge augmentation is a type of bone graft, the full healing process can take several months as the new bone grows into the old bone.

Keep your jaw healthy today!

A ridge augmentation is one of the best ways to prevent premature aging after the loss of a tooth. Even better, a ridge augmentation can make it easier to later get a dental implant, the only way to permanently put a stop to bone deterioration. If you are interested in learning more about this incredible procedure, then call Brookfield Oral Surgery today at 708-680-7017!