Dental Ridge Augmentation Procedure in Virginia Beach , Chesapeake & Suffolk VA

What is a Ridge Augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a common dental procedure often performed in an area where there has been a loss of bone to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw.

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. Usually this empty socket will heal on its own, filling with bone and tissue. Sometimes when a tooth is removed, the bone surrounding the socket breaks, and it unable to heal on its own. The previous height and width of the socket will continue to deteriorate.

Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge is not medically necessary, but may be required for dental implant placement, or for aesthetic purposes. Dental implants require bone to support their structure, and a ridge augmentation can help rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant.

How is the Surgery Accomplished?

A ridge augmentation involves the use of bone obtained from a bone bank, or the patient’s own bone to build up lost bone due to periodontal disease, trauma, or bone atrophy.  The procedure utilizes special membranes to help protect the newly placed bone to encourage bone regeneration during the healing process.  Drs. Konikoff, Hoag and San may also 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.

A ridge augmentation procedure is typically performed in Drs. Konikoff, Hoag and San’s office under local anesthesia, with either oral sedative medication or intravenous sedation.