Ridge Preservation

If a loss of contour is anticipated prior to the extraction, hard tissue grafting procedures to enhance the bone, or soft tissue grafting procedures enhance the gum can be done at the time of the extraction. This will prevent a loss of contour from occurring.

Ridge augmentation: If a loss of contour has already occurred, a hard tissue ridge augmentation can be done to rebuild the jaw bone, or a soft tissue ridge augmentation can be done to rebuild the contour and appearance of the gum. A hard tissue augmentation creates the bone necessary to support a dental implants, and both hard and soft tissue procedures create a natural looking soft tissue contour where teeth are missing. Ovate pontic: When you look at a tooth, it has a very natural appearance as it emerges from the gum tissue. When a tooth is lost, and is replaced with a false tooth (pontic) as part of a fixed bridge, it, too, can have a natural look appearance if the gum is prepared properly before the bridge is placed. This done be creating a small concave depression in the gum and then build the contour of the false tooth into this depression in a very natural way.