Alveoloplasty

The alveolar bone is the part of the jawbone that holds the teeth in place. When teeth are removed in preparation for dentures, the underlying alveolar bone can be sharp in some areas. Since the dentures rest on the gums above this bone, sharp edges or excessive undercuts can make denture wearing difficult or painful. When this happens to our patients in the Lansing area, our expert cosmetic dentists, Drs. DiStefano and Nguyen, can perform an ‘aveoloplasty’.

When one or more permanent teeth are lost due to extraction, injury or accident, each absent tooth leaves a hole in the jawbone. Although the gums will heal over the hole, the underlying jaw bone will inevitably have high and low points. Restorations such as dentures may rub against high points, create sore spots, and fit poorly. Furthermore, over time, the edentulous (toothless) area of the jaw will also lose a significant amount of bone, causing thinning of the top ridge and again making proper denture fit a nightmare. Finally, some people simply have a little extra bone jutting out from the main jawbone, preventing correct denture fitting as well.

In such situations, we use alveoloplasty to smooth out uneven areas, flatten and taper overly thin ridges, and prepare the jaw to receive dentures successfully. Not only does alveoloplasty ensure a better fit for dentures, but it helps control bleeding and improves healing time following multiple extractions, since we actually suture the tooth sockets closed rather than leaving them open to fill with a blood clot as with general single tooth extractions. Fast healing is especially helpful for cancer patients preparing to receive head or neck radiation. For such patients, decayed teeth must be removed and the sockets completely healed prior to commencing therapy.

" The dental procedures we specialize in enhance our
patients' look and their quality of life! "

If you are located in the Lansing, Michigan area and would like to learn more about how an alveoplasty can help you, contact Dr. DiStefano and Dr. Nguyen today. Drs. DiStefano and Nguyen look forward to discussing all your cosmetic dentistry options with you during an initial consultation.