Ridge Augmentation to Allow Dental Implant Placement

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed (shrinks). Bone loss can also occur from trauma (such as car accidents) and from diseases (like periodontal disease) and infections in the jaw bone. This often leaves a condition in which the jaw bone is soft and is not large enough to place dental implants. In the past, these patients were not candidates for placement of dental implants.

Today, we have the ability to regrow bone where needed. This allows us to place implants of proper length and width to solidly replace teeth and gives us a chance to restore chewing function and improve the appearance of your teeth and smile.

Ridge Augmentation (also called bone grafting or bone regeneration) can repair sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries to allow dental implant placement. This allows placement of dental implants in the correct position which aides in implants functioning and looking like teeth. Bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw. In addition, special membranes may be utilized under the gum to protect the bone graft like a blanket to encourage bone regrowth. This is called Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) or Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). Some of these membranes are bio-absorbable (dissolvable) and some require removal (nondissolvable). Other regenerative procedures involve the use of bioactive gels or biomaterials to help regrow the destroyed bone and soft tissues. One of the materials we may use is a growth factor called Gem 21.

If needed sedation can be used to keep you comfortable and relaxed.

Teeth have bone to support them. Implants also need bone for support	Bone Loss comes with Tooth Loss	Bone can be regrown to allow implant placement	Implants placed in the correct position look and function like teeth.

Sinus Lift Procedure

The sinus graft is one type of ridge augmentation. This procedure makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option other than wearing loose dentures or partials.

The maxillary sinuses are located behind your cheeks and on top of the upper back teeth. Sinuses are basically empty spaces filled with air. The roots of the upper back teeth extend up into the maxillary sinuses with or without bone. When these upper teeth are removed, sometimes there is just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. If the bone is present, it may atrophy (dissolve) soon after the teeth are removed. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.

The solution to this problem is the sinus lift procedure. If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to stabilize the implant well, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will have to mature for two to six months. Once the graft has matured, the implants can be placed. If needed sedation can be used to keep you comfortable and relaxed.

There are two types of sinus lift procedures. The lateral sinus lift and the osteotome sinus lift.

Lateral (Direct) Sinus Lift:

For the lateral approach, Drs. Craddock and Godat gently lift the sinus membrane upward and a bone graft is inserted into the floor of the sinus. This does not go into the sinus. It just lifts it up. Keep in mind that the floor of the sinus is the roof of the upper jaw. After two to six months of healing, the bone becomes part of your jaw bone and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new bone. Sometimes implants can be placed at the same time as this procedure

Osteotome (Indirect) Sinus Lift:

The osteolift procedure is usually used when a small amount of bone regrowth is needed. This is a minimally invasive procedure that gently lifts the sinus like a balloon through the same area the implant will be placed. The implant(s) can usually be placed at the same time.

Lateral Ridge Augmentation or Ridge Expansion

In severe bone loss cases, the ridge has been resorbed and a bone graft is placed to increase ridge height and/or width. This is a technique used to restore the lost bone dimension when the jaw ridge gets too thin or too short to place conventional implants. Sometimes with this procedure, the jaw bone is expanded to create adequate bone width and/ or height. Bone graft material can be placed and matured for a few months before placing the implants. Sometimes the implants can be placed at the same time.

If needed sedation can be used to keep you comfortable and relaxed.

Teeth have bone to support them. Implants also need bone for support	Bone Loss comes with Tooth Loss	Bone can be regrown to allow implant placement	Implants placed in the correct position look and function like teeth.