Ridge Augmentation Procedures Available in Columbia, SC
The practice of Dr. Gregg McKenzie is dedicated to providing modern periodontal treatments to the residents of Lexington, Blythewood, and Columbia, South Carolina. Our professional staff will work endlessly with you in order to implement the proper procedure to fulfill your dental needs. With special training, expertise, and the most advanced equipment in periodontics, we are happy to provide our patients with ridge augmentation bone graft procedures.
About Ridge Augmentation
The ridge of the mouth is an area at which the contour of the bone and gums meet with the teeth. When periodontal disease is left untreated, the ridge will deteriorate and the tooth will be lost. Once the tooth is lost, the jawbone is reabsorbed because it is no longer needed to hold the tooth in place. This reabsorption causes an indentation where the tooth used to be. A ridge augmentation will then be performed in order to rebuild the proper height and width of the ridge so that dental implants may be placed or simply for aesthetic purposes.
How a Ridge Augmentation Is Performed
A ridge augmentation involves expanding the ridge mechanically and then applying a bone graft to the tooth socket. This is often done following the extraction of a tooth. Next, the gums will be gently placed over the socket and sutured to remain in a secure position. After a few months, the bone graft rebuilds the ridge, adding substance to the indentation. Once the ridge has been rebuilt, the final dental implant or restoration can be placed.