Alveolar ridge preservation is bone grafting of an immediate extraction socket to prevent collapse of the surrounding bone. The goal is to prevent or minimize an esthetic and/or functional defect immediately after the tooth is extracted.
Alveolar ridge augmentation is a procedure that adds width and/or height to an area of the jawbone that already has sustained bone loss. Alveolar ridge augmentation techniques are designed to treat and reconstruct the defect that is present either at the time of tooth extraction or after the healing of extracted teeth.
At the time of ridge preservation and/or augmentation, the bone graft may also be covered with a soft tissue graft (gum graft), an absorbable membrane, or a nonabsorbable membrane to promote rapid healing of the bone and prevent loss of the bone graft.
Different grafting materials may be utilized in preserving and reconstructing the ridge. These grafting materials are classified as autografts, allografts, xenografts, or alloplastic grafts. Which material to use will depend on what type of function is required from the ridge. Additionally, Enamel Matrix Protein (Emdogain) and/or highly purified rhPDGF-BB growth factor may be added to enhance soft and hard tissue healing and regeneration. The type of material that is utilized at the time of the procedure is always discussed with the patient prior to their appointment.