Ridge Preservation & Ridge Augmentation

Preserving the Bone That Supports Your Future Smile

When a tooth is removed, the surrounding jawbone naturally begins to shrink as it heals. This process is normal, but significant bone loss can occur during the first several months following extraction.

As the bone resorbs, changes in both the height and width of the ridge may make future tooth replacement more difficult and can affect the appearance of your smile.

At Malloy Perio, we often recommend ridge preservation or ridge augmentation to maintain or rebuild the natural foundation of the jaw, creating the best possible environment for long-term function, aesthetics, and future dental implants.

Why Does Bone Shrink After a Tooth Is Removed?

Your tooth root continually stimulates the surrounding jawbone during normal chewing.

Once a tooth is removed, that stimulation is lost, and the body begins remodeling the area by gradually resorbing the bone that once supported the tooth.

Without intervention, this process may result in:

  • Narrowing of the jawbone

  • Loss of bone height

  • Collapse of the gum tissue

  • Changes in facial contour

  • More difficult implant placement

  • Additional reconstructive procedures later

Preserving the ridge early often helps minimize these changes.

Ridge Preservation

Ridge preservation is performed immediately following a tooth extraction whenever appropriate.

After the tooth is carefully removed, bone grafting material is placed into the extraction socket to help preserve the existing bone while your body heals naturally.

Benefits include:

  • Minimizes post-extraction bone loss

  • Preserves the natural shape of the ridge

  • Improves future implant options

  • May reduce the need for more extensive grafting later

  • Supports better long-term esthetic results

Not every extraction requires ridge preservation, but it is often recommended when future implant placement is anticipated.

Ridge Augmentation

Sometimes bone loss has already occurred before treatment begins.

In these situations, ridge augmentation can rebuild areas where the jaw has become too narrow or deficient to properly support a dental implant.

Depending on your specific needs, treatment may include:

  • Bone grafting materials

  • Biologic growth factors

  • Barrier membranes

  • Specialized regenerative techniques

The goal is to recreate adequate bone volume for predictable long-term implant success while restoring the natural contours of the jaw.

Healing

Bone regeneration occurs gradually over several months as your body replaces the graft with healthy living bone.

Healing time varies depending on the size of the graft and your individual treatment plan, but implant placement is typically considered after adequate healing has occurred.

Our Philosophy

Preserving bone today often simplifies treatment tomorrow.

Whether we are maintaining bone immediately after an extraction or rebuilding bone that has already been lost, our goal is to provide the strongest possible foundation for restoring your smile while preserving your long-term oral health.