Ridge Modification Prior to Dental Implant Placement

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)
http://www.perio.org/

The AAP Reports:

Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. This defect may have been caused by periodontal disease, wearing dentures, developmental defects, injury or trauma. Not only does this deformity cause problems in placing the implant, it can also cause an unattractive indentation in the jaw line near the missing teeth that may be difficult to clean and maintain.

To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge. Your periodontist can tell you about your options for graft materials, which can help to regenerate lost bone and tissue.

Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on your individual needs, the bone usually will be allowed to develop for about four to 12 months before implants can be placed. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the ridge is modified.
Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come. Ridge modification can enhance your restorative success both esthetically and functionally.

To learn more about Michigan dental implants, call Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS and Associates at 248.357.3100 or visit us on the web at http://www.drnemeth.com/. You can also visit the AAP website at http://www.perio.org/.

Michigan Dental Implant Patient Seeks Guidance From Southfield Periodontist

Patient Question: I have been missing a tooth in the back upper right area for quite a while and would like to have it replaced. I would prefer not to have to cap the teeth on either side so an implant seems like the way to go. I was told I would need to "grow bone" in that area. How is that possible?

Anonymous, Farmington Hills, MI

Answer: It sounds like what your doctor is concerned about is getting enough bone in the area requiring the implant. Sometimes when an implant is needed in the posterior areas of the maxilla (upper jaw bone), the sinus cavities get in the way. The sinus is nothing more than a space for air, but if the sinus is very large, it minimizes the amount of bone available to secure an implant; therefore, we need to grow bone.

The procedure, called a sinus augmentation or sinus lift, involves raising a small amount of the membrane lining the sinus (like the membrane inside an egg shell) and filling the empty space with a bone grafting material. We then let this bone grow or mature for approximately six months. At that point the patient will most likely have grown enough bone to support the implant.

Have a similar question? Contact the Michigan Dental Implant Specialists at Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Associates at 248.357.3100. Our team of Doctors, Hygienists, Assistants and Business staff are all highly knowledgable in the fields of Periodontics and Dental Implants and will be pleased to answer any and all of your questions or address any concerns. Submit your question online at http://www.drnemeth.com/patientinfo_asktheperiodontist.html.