Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
The preparation of your mouth before the placement of a prosthesis is referred to as pre-prosthetic surgery.
Some patients require minor oral surgical procedures before receiving a partial or complete denture, in order to ensure the maximum level of comfort and function. A denture sits on the jaw ridge, so it is very important that the bone is the proper shape and size. If a tooth needs to be extracted, the underlying bone might be left sharp and uneven. For the best fit of a denture, the bone might need to be smoothed or reshaped. Occasionally, excess bone would need to be removed prior to denture insertion.
Occasionally the soft tissue of the mouth and gums will need to be revised:
On occasion some patients have excessive gum or soft tissue (mucosa) in the mouth attached to the dental ridges. These areas will act to displace the denture if not properly surgically revised. This procedure is called vestibuloplasty.
One or more of the following procedures might need to be performed in order to prepare your mouth for a denture:
- Bone smoothing and reshaping
- Removal of excess bone
- Bone ridge reduction
- Removal of excess gum tissue
- Exposure of impacted teeth
- Vestibuloplasty
We will review your particular needs with you during your appointment.