Ridge Preservation in Washington, DC

When a tooth is extracted, the bone surrounding the tooth sockets tends to cave in and leave behind an indentation in the arch. This can change the appearance of your face and jaw and also impact your future candidacy for receiving a dental implant. Ridge preservation is a type of bone grafting procedure that Dr. Edward Delgado and Dr. Michael Kuzmik use to preserve a recent extraction site, prepare the bone for solid implant support, and maintain natural aesthetic contours of the jaw. Following a tooth extraction, our board-certified oral surgeons perform ridge preservation by adding healthy bone directly into the extraction sites. This bone graft is given time to heal and integrate with the jaw to create the bone support needed for long-term tooth replacement with a dental implant. If you have a damaged or unsalvageable tooth that requires extraction, schedule a consultation with Dr. Delgado or Dr. Kuzmik at one of our Virginia oral surgery practices today to learn if ridge preservation can improve your oral health.

If you have a damaged, decayed, loose, or otherwise hopeless tooth that needs to be extracted, you may be a candidate for a ridge preservation bone grafting procedure. Leaving teeth unreplaced after tooth extractions can lead to loss of bone in the jaw and changes in your physical appearance. Dental implants are often used to replace missing or extracted teeth but do require adequate levels of bone in order to work. Ridge preservation can improve your candidacy for replacing a missing or extracted tooth with a dental implant and can help you maintain a more youthful facial profile. During your treatment consultation, our skilled oral surgeons will review your treatment options and oral health needs and let you know if ridge preservation is right for your smile.

Ridge preservation bone grafting is often completed immediately following a tooth extraction. Dr. Delgado and Dr. Kuzmik offer a variety of sedation dentistry options to help keep you comfortable and relaxed during your ridge preservation procedure. Before beginning your extraction procedure, our doctors will thoroughly numb the treatment area and perform either a simple or surgical extraction to remove your tooth. Our surgical team will then fill the bone sockets left by your tooth roots with bone grafting material taken from your own body or another biocompatible donor source. To provide the best possible treatment outcomes, we may incorporate tissue regenerative materials into your bone grafting sites to expedite your body's ability to heal and regenerate new bone tissue. Our doctors will then suture the gums and rinse the treatment sites.

Following your tooth extraction and ridge preservation procedure, our team will provide specific post-op instructions on how to care for your mouth during the healing and recovery phase. You may notice swelling or discomfort that typically can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses. Please contact our practice immediately if you develop a fever or have significant pain or uncontrolled bleeding. A follow-up visit may be scheduled with Dr. Delgado or Dr. Kuzmik to check your healing and let you know when the area will be ready for dental implant surgery.

Depending on your specific dental insurance plan and provider, ridge preservation may be a covered procedure. Our knowledgeable business team will review your coverage amounts and let you know of any personal expenses that you may incur. We strive to make receiving oral surgical care affordable for all patients and accept several types of payment options. If you are not using dental insurance or if your insurance does not offer full coverage for this procedure, we can provide information on medical financing through CareCredit®.

Preserving your jawbone following a tooth extraction can help you restore your smile with a dental implant. Ridge preservation bone grafting procedures with Dr. Delgado and Dr. Kuzmik strengthen the jaw by adding tissue to extraction sites and helping to maintain a natural facial appearance and jaw contours. Learn more about our ridge preservation techniques and tooth extraction procedures by scheduling a visit at one of our state-of-the-art Virginia practices today.