What is a ridge augmentation?

If a tooth has been missing for a few years or if there was a lot of infection or bone loss when the tooth was removed, the healed ridge after tooth extraction can often be very narrow. This can make implant placement impossible and significantly detract from the appearance of a restored dental implant or even a fixed bridge. A ridge augmentation builds out the healed ridge with bone if an implant is planned or with bone and/or gums if a fixed bridge is planned. When healed, this replaces some of the bone that was lost and provides the support needed for a strong dental implant or fixed bridge and helps support the gums so the replacement tooth looks normal.

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