Ridge Augmentation
Streamlined Care for Dental Implants
Tooth extractions and jawbone recession can both cause changes in the natural shape of your gums and jaw. In many cases, these changes can also affect your candidacy for certain tooth replacement treatments, including dental implants and dentures. Fortunately, the team at Knoxville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C., can perform a ridge augmentation to maintain your alveolar ridge. Drs. Turner P. Emery and Dr. Rizzo can perform this advanced procedure in a private surgical center at our Knoxville, TN, practice. We can also perform this treatment immediately after tooth extraction for streamlined care.
Grafted material is added to the alveolar ridge to restore the missing portion of the jawbone structure.
When Is a Ridge Augmentation Needed?
The alveolar ridge is the section of the jaw which holds tooth roots in place. When a tooth is removed or falls out, it leaves an empty socket in the ridge, which typically heals without intervention.
However, in some cases, the walls of the socket break or recede. Your doctor can perform a ridge augmentation to rebuild the walls of the alveolar ridge with grafting material or prevent damage. Our team often recommends ridge augmentations for patients who:
Bone Loss
Do not qualify for dental implants due to bone loss.
Ridge Issues
Dislike the appearance of their gum line due to issues with the alveolar ridge.
Issues with Dentures
Have trouble wearing dentures comfortably due to tissue recession.
Jaw Appearance
Want to preserve the shape of their jaw after tooth extraction.
During your initial consultation at our office, we can discuss the benefits of a ridge augmentation and the other types of bone grafts we offer to help determine the right option for you.
How the Procedure Works
Typically, we can perform ridge augmentation under local anesthesia. However, we also offer several forms of sedation for improved comfort. For some patients, only a small graft is needed. For others, the entire ridge needs rebuilding. The duration of your treatment will depend on how much work is needed.
Depending on your needs, we can perform this procedure immediately after a tooth extraction to prevent issues with your jaw during the healing process.
During the procedure, our surgeons will create an incision in the gum line at the treatment area. Then they will pack the area with the donor material to rebuild the alveolar ridge. Once complete, they will close the incisions with sutures.
After Your Ridge Augmentation
The incisions in the gums will typically heal in about two weeks. It can take four to six months for the grafted tissue to fully integrate with your jaw. We will monitor your healing during follow-up appointments. If you wish to replace a tooth with an implant-supported restoration, we will determine when it is safe to proceed with placement surgery.
Schedule a Consultation
At Knoxville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer a full range of surgical procedures to improve your oral health. From bone grafting and ridge augmentation to implant placement, we can help you with a variety of issues. Contact our office online or call (865) 584-6207 to speak with a knowledgeable member of our team today.
Testimonials From Our Patients
We are proud to be able to provide our patients with access to first-rate surgical care, cutting-edge procedures, and an overall outstanding experience.
Dr. Emery did a fantastic job in providing tooth extraction and replacement with a dental implant. I had been anxious and he relieved my concerns immediately. He and his team provided a relatively pain-free experience and were available to answer all my questions quickly and professionally. I was so pleased with them that I took my daughter to Dr. Emery for her wisdom teeth extraction. We were both surprised at how well her pain had been managed and she never had to use opioids! If we need oral surgery again, we know where to go! Thank you, Dr. Emery, Dawn, Amanda, Meghan, Hannah, Wendy, and all the others!
- Lea Alexander
Painless procedures and quick recoveries. Couldn’t be more pleased. Highly recommend these oral surgeons.
- Robin Hutchins
Dr. Emery and his staff are so amazing. They really go the extra mile to make you comfortable and Dr. Emery’s bedside manner is like none I’ve ever seen before! He’s one of those doctors you hope you don’t have to go back to, but will be the ONLY one I do go to if it’s ever needed again. My only complaint is that he’s not in general dentistry because i wouldn’t be so terrified to go to a dentist if it was him. Great guy, great staff, great atmosphere!
- Allison Fritz
Awesome Staff, Excellent Doctors, Great Prices! Turned a ‘bad day’ into great experience! Been there twice- almost 2 years apart. Rock solid and highly recommended!
- Max Zimmerman
- Kari Hester
Our Office Locations
We have two office locations in Knoxville, TN.
West Knoxville Location
6207 Highland Pl Way, Ste 207
Knoxville, TN 37919
Directions
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: (865) 584-6207
North Knoxville Location
2939 Essary Dr, Ste 1
Knoxville, TN 37918
Directions
Hours:
Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: (865) 240-2977