4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite #E-100, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Ridge Augmentation What Are Dental Implants?Dental implants involve a surgical procedure that places small, titanium rods in your jawbone. These rods fuse with your bone, becoming a strong, stable support for one or more false teeth. Implants have become one the top tooth replacement option available because they offer numerous benefits over traditional dentures. The main benefit of implants is that they prevent the bone loss that is associated with missing teeth, standing in for the roots of your natural teeth to keep the bone strong and healthy. However, to be considered for implant surgery, you must first have sufficient bone mass in your jaw. This is where the ridge augmentation comes in. What Is a Ridge Augmentation?A ridge augmentation is a surgical procedure that uses bone graft material to fill in the weakened portions of your jaw, allowing it to become strong again. The material used for the graft can be from your body, from a donor, or even another species (the bone is processed first to minimize the risk of rejection). We may choose instead to use a synthetic material. We will decide which is best during your initial consultation. How Is it Performed?Before we start the procedure, we first give you a local anesthetic, along with a sedative, if you need help relaxing. We then make small incisions in your gum tissue to expose the weakened areas of bone. The chosen bone grafting material is placed. We may place a membrane over the bone to keep it separated from the gum tissue while it heals, a procedure known as guided tissue bone regeneration. We stitch your gums closed, and you can start to heal. After several months, when the graft is completely healed, we can begin the process for dental implants. Healing From a Ridge AugmentationHealing from a ridge augmentation can take anywhere from 4 to 12 months. During this time, rest, care of the surgical sites, and proper oral care are essential and can expedite the healing process. Avoiding strenuous activities for a while is a must, at least for a week or so. We will send you home with a set of aftercare instructions that detail how to care for your gums, how to prevent infection and how to deal with common postsurgical issues, such as pain and swelling. In a majority of ridge augmentations, so long as you take care of yourself and the surgical sites, you will experience no issues healing. If you are interested in dental implants but have already lost bone mass, call Implant and Periodontal Wellness Center of Arizona at (480) 504-0506 to learn more about how a ridge augmentation can help. |
| Monday | 8–5 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8–5 |
| Wednesday | 7–4 |
| Thursday | 8–5 |
| Friday | 8–12 |
| Closed for Lunch | 12–1 |