Oral and maxillofacial surgery involves several corrective procedures. One treatment for restoring missing teeth is pre-prosthetic surgery. Some patients might require pre-prosthetic surgery before getting tooth replacements. This surgical procedure prepares your jawbones and soft tissues in the mouth for dental implants or dentures. It can help improve patient outcomes after undergoing dental implant surgery. The following are some of the steps involved in pre-prosthetic surgery:
Removal of Excess Bone
After tooth extraction, the jawbone underneath the extracted site might experience significant bone loss. However, some patients might develop bony protrusions on the gums. These bony protrusions might pose a challenge during dental implant surgery. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can remove the excess bone before placing dental implants or dentures.
Removal of Excess Gum Tissue
Your gums can overgrow after dental extraction to fill the void left by the missing teeth. Gum overgrowth can also occur because of gingival hyperplasia. Excess gum tissue can lead to an uneven gum line, inhibiting dental implant surgery. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon can remove excess gum tissue during pre-prosthetic surgery to prepare your gums for dentures or dental implants.
Bone Ridge Reduction
Bone ridge reduction, or alveoloplasty, is a procedure that reshapes and smoothens the jawbone surrounding the tooth socket. It prepares the restoration site for dental implants, ensuring your implants are stable and comfortable before placing the dental crowns or prosthetic teeth.
Bone Leveling and Reshaping
Another step in pre-prosthetic surgery is bone leveling or reshaping. The jawbone underneath the extraction site must align with the bone beneath the adjacent teeth for a successful procedure. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will level and reshape the bone to ensure it has the desired requirements.
Nerve Repositioning
Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon might need to move the inferior alveolar nerve when preparing your mouth for dental implants. This mandibular nerve is responsible for sensory innervation to the chin and lower lip. Repositioning the nerve allows for the placement of longer dental implants.
Contact Our Practice Today
Pre-prosthetic surgery is critical to the success of dental implant surgery. It prepares your oral cavity for complex tooth replacement procedures. Visit our practice today or contact us to learn more about pre-prosthetic surgery and other OMS procedures.
South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, 5595 Winfield Blvd, Suite 202, San Jose, CA 95123-1220 | 408-479-9449 | svofs.com | 9/5/2024 | Related Terms: dental implants San Jose CA |
Oral and maxillofacial surgery involves several corrective procedures. One treatment for restoring missing teeth is pre-prosthetic surgery. Some patients might require pre-prosthetic surgery before getting tooth replacements. This surgical procedure prepares your jawbones and soft tissues in the mouth for dental implants or dentures. It can help improve patient outcomes after undergoing dental implant surgery. The following are some of the steps involved in pre-prosthetic surgery: