Pre-Prosthetic Surgery Can Ensure Optimal Restorative Results
Pre-prosthetic surgery is essential for patients who are receiving dental implants or another tooth replacement solution, such as conventional dentures. These procedures can prepare your mouth to accommodate the prosthesis in a way that will allow it to last longer and appear more natural. Dr. Dustin J. Hopkin can ensure you are optimally prepared for restorative treatment at Hopkin Oral Surgery, serving patients in and around Salt Lake City, UT. As a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he has specialized training that has equipped him in handling both straightforward and complex oral surgery cases.
Types of Preparatory Surgeries
Pre-prosthetic surgery is a type of oral surgery performed to prepare the soft and hard tissues within the mouth for tooth replacement. It is often recommended as a preliminary procedure for dental implants, but can also help your denture fit more snugly. Pre-prosthetic surgery can include:
- Smoothing and reshaping bone tissue
- Removing excess bone or gum tissue
- Bone ridge reduction
- Bone augmentation
- Removing or exposing impacted teeth
After having the boney structures and gum tissues within your mouth smoothed and adequately prepared, you could enjoy a more comfortable fit, better functionality, and more natural-looking prosthesis. Choosing a trusted and skilled oral surgeon, such as Dr. Hopkin, will ensure you achieve the very best results.
Our Range of Services
Before undergoing any type of surgery, Dr. Hopkin will meet with you to discuss the type of restoration you are planning on receiving and perform a series of x-rays and scans to determine the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. After creating a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, the surgery will be scheduled.
These types of procedures can help you enjoy a more comfortable fit, better functionality, and more natural-looking dental prosthetic.
Oral surgeries are performed with local anesthesia to ensure your comfort. We also offer sedation options for nervous patients or those undergoing lengthy or complex treatment. At Hopkin Oral Surgery, we provide a variety of pre-prosthetic surgeries, including:
Ridge Correction or Reduction
During this procedure, the boney structures within your jawbone are smoothed or reshaped to create a level area for the denture to rest upon.
Ridge Augmentation
After extensive tooth loss, it is not uncommon for the jawbone to lose density. When this occurs, it can prevent a comfortable fit for a denture, as well as lead to failed dental implant placement. During ridge augmentation, bone tissue is harvested from another area of the body (or a donor) and inserted into the jawbone to promote healthy bone growth. In some cases, synthetic materials can be used.
Sinus Lift
When there is bone loss or inadequate spacing within the upper jaw, a bone graft will be inserted under the sinus membrane to create a healthy foundation for the dental implants.
Gum Contouring
When there is excess gum tissue preventing your restoration from fitting properly or looking natural, it can be gently sculpted and removed.
Tooth Exposure or Extraction
For patients with partially or fully impacted teeth, oral surgery can be performed to either remove or uncover the impacted tooth. A tooth extraction may also be recommended for teeth that are severely decayed or infected to create a healthy foundation for your prosthesis.
Are You a Candidate?
If you are interested in a conventional denture or an implant-supported restoration, you may benefit greatly from pre-prosthetic surgery. To determine if you are a candidate for this procedure, contact our office online or by calling (801) 277-3942.