When you come in for an oral exam, our team may recommend the use of ridge augmentation. This is a procedure that becomes necessary when you’ve lost one or more teeth and develop jawbone deterioration as a result. At Lovett Dental Sugar Land, we offer comprehensive ridge augmentation services that can fix not only the bone recession but also your smile.
Why Do You Need Ridge Augmentation?
There are a few reasons why ridge augmentation may be necessary. In many situations, this procedure is necessary because the jawbone starts to deteriorate. As it does this, it can cause other teeth in the mouth to change position. It may also cause TMJ disorder (temporomandibular joint) problems or encourage the early decay of other teeth. Our goal is to fix this process. You may need ridge augmentation if you:
- Lost a tooth at some point
- Had a tooth extraction
- Had wisdom teeth removed
- Did not have dental implants placed in openings between teeth
In these situations, those openings allow for the jawbone to start to shrink and breakdown. That puts the rest of your teeth at risk. However, this is a condition that we can improve in most cases.
How Are Ridge Augmentation Services Completed?
Our first step is to understand what is happening with your teeth and mouth as a whole. We use X-rays and a physical exam to ensure we understand what is occurring. If we notice any damage to your jawbone, we may want to act quickly to prevent any worsening condition. This is when we may recommend the use of ridge augmentation.
The procedure is not painful and is done using general anesthesia. It requires the removal of bone from another area of the body. This is called a bone graft. It is then positioned into an opening we create in your gums near where the bone deterioration occurs. This ridge augmentation will offer some improved shape.
However, our goal is to encourage bone graft to grow new bone in the area. As this happens, it will allow the bone to become stronger. Once it heals fully, which can take a few weeks, we can take the next step. For many people, the next step is the placement of a dental implant. This will fill in the opening, and it will allow you to have an artificial tooth placed over the area. It gives you back your smile and can help you avoid any more damage to the other teeth.
How Does Ridge Augmentation Get Started?
As a full-service dental team, we provide for all of your oral health needs. Often, this means providing you with other types of oral health care to ensure your teeth and gums are as healthy as possible. We may recommend additional services for you, including:
- General dentistry services
- Teeth cleaning services
- Tooth extraction for damaged teeth
- Dental implant services
- Periodontic services as needed
In every situation, our goal is to help to prevent tooth decay. We also want to ensure you love your smile. We can do this by providing you with a wide range of services, including ridge augmentation services right here. It all starts by coming in to meet our dental team to learn how we can help you.
Call Lovett Dental Sugar Land Today
Ridge augmentation can sound like a very scary procedure, but it does not have to be. With years of experience and exceptional ridge augmentation services available to you, Lovett Dental Sugar Land can meet your needs. Your first step is to call for an appointment with our team. Call 281-759-5900, or contact us online for immediate help.