Procedures
Ridge Enhancement
The ridge is the term used to describe the part of the gum tissue that you see in an area where a tooth has been removed. If a tooth is lost and the socket is not grafted, the gum and bone in this area will shrink and create what is called a “ridge defect”. Many times this ridge defect creates problems with placing dental implants or creating natural looking replacement teeth. Dr. Scharf developed and published a novel technique for plumping a collapsed ridge in The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. His technique is now used throughout the world by periodontists and oral surgeons alike. Here is a case of ridge enhancement treated by Dr. Scharf
Ridge Augmentation to Correct Deformities
of the Gum Tissue Ridge
This patient lost his teeth in a car accident. A large ridge defect resulted from the trauma. This concavity would make any tooth replacement look fake.
Ridge augmentation was used to replace the lost tissue and restore the form of the ridge. The concavity is eliminated.
By restoring the correct shape to the ridge, the replacement teeth can have a natural appearance.