Ridge Augmentation | Branchburg NJ

What is a Ridge Augmentation?

A ridge augmentation is a common dental procedure often performed prior to dental implant placement to increase the height and width of bone in the area where the implant is planned.

The alveolar ridge of the jaw is the bone that surrounds the roots of teeth. When a tooth is removed an empty socket is left in the alveolar ridge bone. Usually this empty socket will heal on its own, filling with bone and tissue. Sometimes when a tooth is removed the bone surrounding the socket breaks and is unable to heal on its own. The previous height and width of the socket will continue to deteriorate.

Rebuilding the original height and width of the alveolar ridge is not always necessary, but may be required for dental implant placement. Dental implants require bone to support their structure and a ridge augmentation can help rebuild this bone to accommodate the implant.