Ridge Augmentation

What Is Ridge Augmentation?

The area that is receiving treatment will be thoroughly numbed with local anesthesia. After we ensure you are comfortable, we will make small incisions at the surgical site and gently move the gums out of the way. The bone graft will be prepared and placed at the site. Depending on the procedure, materials may be utilized that are not resorbed naturally and will need to be removed during a secondary procedure. We will make sure to discuss this with you at your exam, and review before the procedure begins. After the graft is secure, we will replace the gums to cover the site and secured with stitches.

We offer multiple sedation options for surgical procedures, if needed.

Graft Materials

Bone graft materials are obtained in several ways, most often from cows, pigs, or human cadavers. The donors have no positive history of known systemic disease, and blood tests are negative for any infections. The grafts are extensively tested for bacterial contaminants and processed under strict laboratory conditions known to kill all bacteria and viruses, under experimental conditions. The graft material is placed in a vacuum-sealed sterile container until it is ready to be opened during surgery. All materials used are FDA approved.

During the procedure, we also draw a small amount of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge to separate out all the good growth factors that your body naturally produces. We mix those growth factors in with the bone graft before placing it in the sinus. This additional step helps to significantly enhance healing.

Treatment Timeline

Visit 1: Consult & Exam

Review of health history and determine diagnosis
Review recommended treatment plan and answer all questions

Visit 2: Bone Graft for Ridge Augmentation

Sedation (optional) and local anesthesia
Completion of surgical procedure for bone grafting
Review post-op instructions and care

Visit 3: Post-op (3 weeks)

Check the area for normal healing
Remove sutures
Review and update home care instructions
Additional post-op appointments may be scheduled as necessary, based on healing
Note: You may not see the doctor at your post-op appointment, but they are always available to answer any question if you need. Do not hesitate to ask!