Are you considering getting dental implants near San Diego? Dental implants can improve your smile, daily life, and overall oral health. However, if your teeth have been missing for a long period of time, your jawbone may not be able to support dental implants. Fortunately, your oral surgeon can perform a form of bone grafting called a ridge expansion to restore your jawbone to a fuller width and height before inserting dental implants.
Your oral surgeon may suggest a ridge expansion for a couple of reasons. First, if you have had a tooth extraction, it’s possible that some of your jawbone was lost during the extraction. A ridge expansion can re-create your jawbone to replace the lost material. Second, if you have lost a tooth or teeth through an accident or due to periodontal disease, it’s possible that your jawbone has become reabsorbed. A ridge expansion can augment your thin jaw bone so that it becomes thick enough to support dental implants.