Everyone must make sure that they have access to reliable dental care. At Lovett Dental Beaumont, we are here to help with all of your dental needs. We offer comprehensive general dental services and specialty services such as ridge augmentation. When it comes to ridge augmentation services, there are a few important points that everyone should keep in mind. Our primary goal is to make sure that everyone has access to comprehensive dental care services. This includes not only regular teeth cleaning but also acute care as well.

What Is Ridge Augmentation?

dentist talking about ridge augmentationFirst, everyone needs to know what ridge augmentation is. The goal of dental augmentation is to ensure that everyone has a smooth contour to the inside of their mouth. This includes soft tissue, the jaw, and teeth. There are some cases where individuals might not have a smooth contour. When this happens, people run the risk of having food particles trapped in these valleys. This can lead to oral decay.

The most common reason people need ridge augmentation is that there are peaks and valleys and their mouths’ contour. Often, this happens following a tooth extraction. There are some situations where dental cavities might not be able to be filled. In these situations, tooth extraction might be necessary:

  • More than 16 percent of children under the age of 19 have cavities that have not been appropriately treated.
  • More than 30 percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 44 have cavities that have not been appropriately treated.

If these cavities have not been treated appropriately, tooth extraction might be required. This is due to several oral health issues like tooth decay. When this is the case, ridge augmentation services might be required.

How Is Ridge Augmentation Performed?

First, a dentist will have to take a close look at your mouth and identify what the problems might be. In some cases, they might only be one empty socket that requires augmentation. There might be multiple areas located on the inside of the mouth that require attention in other situations.

Then, the dentist will take soft tissue and, in some cases, bony tissue and add it directly to the area that requires augmentation. Finally, the dentist is going to close up the area using sutures. Usually, patients return for a few follow-up visits to make sure the augmentation procedure was a success.

What Happens After a Dental Augmentation Procedure?

Once the procedure is finished, patients need to keep a few important tips in mind during the recovery process. These include:

  • Patients need to make sure they avoid drinking through a straw after the first couple of days following the procedure to avoid dislodging a blood clot.
  • People must avoid smoking both before and after the procedure, as this can get in the way of the healing process.
  • Anyone who ends up running a fever, notices pus coming from their mouth, or notices bleeding should immediately call the dentist.

At Lovett Dental Beaumont, we are always available. We provide emergency dental services in case people have complications following a procedure such as ridge augmentation.

Contact Lovett Dental Beaumont Today

If you are looking for a reliable, local dentist, look no further than Lovett Dental Beaumont. Our dentists and hygienists work hard to stay on top of our field’s latest developments because we believe this allows us to provide the best services possible to our patients. We provide a broad range of general dental services and specialty dental services to meet the unique needs of individuals and families. Please contact us today at 409-924-8100 to make an appointment with a member of our team. We look forward to helping you!