If you've lost a tooth or had an extraction, often a dental bridge is used as a replacement. A collapsed ridge occurs when tissue pulls away under the artificial tooth. A collapsed ridge can cause a small space and shadow at the replacement site, which is unnatural looking and traps plaque and food, which can lead to decay. If this happens, your periodontist may suggest a dental bridge or a gum graft.
Do I Need a Dental Bridge or a Gum Graft?
To prevent a collapsed ridge, a periodontist may perform a bone or gum graft before the tissue has a chance to collapse at the extraction site. A bone graft involves placing bone or bone-like material into the empty tooth socket to help rebuild the bone and restore it to a natural level. The result is less tissue shrinkage and the ridge will be suitable for tooth replacement with a dental bridge or dental implant.
Watch our other Periodontist videos.
Is it Time for a Gum Graft?
If the site has already collapsed, it will leave a depression in the gum tissue. The collapsed ridge could then be restored with a simple gum graft. A gum graft is done by taking a small amount of gum from another site in the mouth and grafting it to the site that's lacking gum tissue. After the new gum tissue has healed, it will be thicker and look like the tooth root is still present. When the dentist creates the new tooth, it will fit the natural contour of your gums and look healthy and natural.
Watch our other dental video on ridge maintenance.