Ridge augmentation
Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. The defect may have been caused by periodontal disease, wearing dentures, development defects, injury or trauma. Not only does this deformity cause problems in placing the dental implant, it can also cause an unattractive indentation in the jaw line near the missing teeth that may be difficult to clean and maintain.
To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge. Dr. Tehrani can tell you about your options for graft materials, which can help to regenerate lost bone and tissue.
Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on your individual needs, the bone usually will be allowed to develop for 4 to 12 months before implants can be placed. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the ridge is modified.