Preserving and Developing Bone as Part of Periodontal and Implant Treatment
After a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone naturally changes shape and volume as the site heals. In selected cases, grafting can preserve the extraction site or provide the additional bone height needed for an implant.
Dr. Eleni Kanasi performs ridge preservation and internal, or crestal, sinus elevation as part of her periodontal and implant practice.
Ridge Preservation
Ridge preservation is performed at the time a tooth is removed, when maintaining the dimensions of the site will help with future restorative or implant treatment.
Graft material is placed into the socket to support healing and limit the amount of change in the ridge after the tooth comes out. Ridge preservation cannot prevent all bone remodeling and does not guarantee that no further treatment will be needed.
Because Dr. Kanasi often removes teeth that have been lost to gum disease, she gives particular attention to sites where the surrounding bone has already been damaged by periodontal disease and where the walls of the socket may be incomplete.
Internal, or Crestal, Sinus Elevation
In the upper back jaw, the maxillary sinus can limit the amount of bone available for an implant.
When the remaining bone height and the anatomy are favorable, an internal sinus elevation gently lifts the floor of the sinus through the implant site itself, or through a small opening at the top of the ridge, creating a modest amount of additional space for bone. It is a smaller procedure than a lateral sinus lift and is often performed at the same appointment as implant placement.
When a larger volume of bone needs to be developed, sinus lift surgery through the side of the upper jaw is the more predictable approach. Dr. Amber Hurley Johnson, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, performs that procedure.
Treatment Planning
The right approach depends on the extraction site, the available bone, the sinus anatomy, your periodontal condition, and the restorative plan. Dr. Kanasi will explain which procedure she recommends and how it fits into the overall implant sequence.
Healing
Grafted sites need time to heal and mature. The timing of implant placement or the next phase of treatment follows the individual site rather than one fixed schedule.
Schedule an Appointment
If you are having teeth removed that you want to replace with a dental implant, consult our oral surgical experts before your procedure. It is simpler and less invasive to have a ridge augmentation done at the same time as your extraction if it is needed. We can also help if you need a sinus elevation for upper molar dental implants. Contact our office to schedule your consultation.