Alveolar Ridge Preservation and/or Augmentation (Bone Grafting)

Alveolar ridge preservation and/or augmentation (bone grafting) are advanced procedures designed to maintain or rebuild the jawbone following tooth extraction or bone loss. After a tooth extraction, the surrounding bone that once supported the tooth begins a natural process called bone resorption. Without intervention, this can lead to significant changes in the alveolar ridge, including horizontal bone loss, soft tissue collapse, and inadequate bone volume for future dental implant treatment.

What is Alveolar Ridge Preservation?

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.

What is Alveolar Ridge Augmentation?

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.

Additional Alveolar Ridge Preservation Techniques

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.

Other Grafting Materials

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.

Are You a Candidate for Ridge Preservation or Augmentation?

You may be a candidate for alveolar ridge preservation after tooth extraction if you are planning future implant placement or wish to maintain the natural contour of your soft tissue and bone. Ridge preservation after tooth extraction is especially beneficial following a single-tooth extraction or a molar extraction socket, where greater bone resorption is common.

Patients who already have bone loss, bone defects, or inadequate bone volume may benefit from ridge augmentation or additional bone augmentation before dental implant treatment. If radiographic alveolar bone imaging shows thinning of the alveolar ridge or insufficient bone height or width, bone grafts may be recommended to facilitate implant placement and ensure long-term implant stability.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Alveolar ridge preservation interventions are typically completed at the time of tooth extraction as part of a carefully planned dental surgery. After the tooth is removed, the extraction socket is thoroughly cleaned to prepare the site for grafting. A bone substitute or bone graft material is then placed into the socket to support bone formation and alveolar socket preservation.

For ridge augmentation, the surgical procedure may involve rebuilding areas of horizontal bone loss or restoring the alveolar crest with bone grafts to improve bone volume and soft tissue contour. The approach used will depend on the size of the defect and future plans for implant placement.

Healing and Recovery After Bone Grafting

Bone healing and socket healing occur gradually over several months. During this time, bone cells integrate with the grafting materials and begin forming new bone tissue. The goal of ridge preservation procedures and bone regeneration is to create strong, healthy bone capable of supporting a dental implant.

The healing process varies depending on the size of the graft, the surgical protocols used, and your body’s natural regenerative capacity. In general, bone regeneration takes several months before implant placement can safely occur. In select cases, immediate implant placement may be possible, but often a period of healing is recommended to optimize bone formation and stability.