A regenerative procedure may be recommended when the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed. These procedures can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone and tissue. In most cases regenerative procedures are done in conjunction with pocket-reduction procedures. During this procedure, your gum tissue is folded back and the disease-causing bacteria are removed. Membranes, bone grafts, and/or tissue-stimulating proteins can be used to encourage your body’s natural ability to regenerate lost bone and tissue.

In addition, Drs. Lincks, Demetter and Florence routinely perform alveolar bone-grafting procedures to reconstruct the jaws in preparation for implants. Regenerative procedures also provide us with the ability to grow bone in areas where bone was lost due to tooth extractions. This gives us the opportunity to place dental implants of proper length and width as well as restore functionality and esthetics. The bone graft procedures are:

• Sinus lift procedures: The sinus membrane is elevated and bone graft is placed onto the sinus floor allowing implants to be placed in the back part of the upper jaw.
• Ridge-augmentation: In severe cases the ridge has been reabsorbed following a tooth extraction. A bone graft is placed to increase the height and width of the jawbone.
• Ridge preservation: Immediately following tooth extraction a bone graft is placed in the extraction socket to preserve the jaw bone for future restoration.