Ridge Regeneration

"When a tooth is lost for any reason, the gum tissue usually does not heal back to its original position, thus leaving an indentation in your gums and jawbone where the tooth used to be. This happens because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place. The ridge ""defect"" may be filled in, recapturing the natural contour of your gums and jaw.

A ridge augmentation procedure is performed by placing tissue or a bone graft to fill the void from your missing tooth or to restore an area that has had bone loss as a result of wearing a denture. Ridge augmentation procedures can often include the use of resorbable bone graft material in combination with resorbable collagen membranes and small screws to hold them in plave. In most cases, ridge augmentation surgery can be performed in a single day but requires 3-6 months for the bone to fully regenerate in order to create a healthy base to support dental implants. In most cases, a ridge augmentation procedure is performed immediately following tooth extraction but can be performed many years after tooth loss. "