Ridge Augmentation is a periodontal procedure performed following a tooth extraction to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost following an extraction (or for other reasons) and which has left a large depression, cleft or crease in the gum.
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 collapses – or is lost – and is therefore unable to heal on its own. The original height and width of the socket will continue to deteriorate as the socket heals.
Aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking teeth depend not only on the form and shade of the teeth but also on the shape and contour of the surrounding gums. In areas where teeth have been lost, the bone and gum tissue in the area lack the natural support of dental roots and will often recede and shrink over time.
Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge may be required for Dental Implant placement or for aesthetic purposes. Dental Implants require bone to support their structure, and Ridge Augmentation can rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant.
