Surgical Interventions when your jaw needs to be altered

Who requires pre-prosthetic surgery?

The preparation of mouth before the placement of a prosthesis is referred to as pre-prosthetic surgery. Some patients require minor oral surgical procedures before receiving a partial or complete denture in order to ensure the maximum level of comfort. A denture sits on the bone ridge, so it is very important that the bone is the proper shape and size. If a tooth needs to be extracted, the underlying bone might be sharp and uneven. For the best fit of a denture, the bone might need to be smoothed or reshaped. Occasionally, excess bone may need to be removed prior to denture insertion.

One or more of the following procedures might need to be performed in order to prepare your mouth for a denture:

• Bone smoothing and reshaping
• Removal of excess bone
• Bone ridge reduction
• Removal of excess gum tissue
• Exposure of impacted teeth

Who requires bone grafting?

Missing teeth over a period of time can cause your jaw bone to atrophy, or resorb. This often results in poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for the placement of dental implants as well as long term shifting of remaining teeth and changes to facial structure. Most patients, in these situations, are not candidates for dental implants.

Fortunately, today we have the ability to grow bone where it is needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, but it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.