Pre-Prosthetic Surgery

The preparation of your mouth before the placement of a prosthesis (e.g.: denture) 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. A denture sits on the gums and the underlying bone ridge, so it is very important that they are the proper shape and size. After a tooth is extracted, the underlying bone might be sharp and uneven. The bone would then need to be smoothed out or reshaped to ensure a comfortable fit of the denture. The gums may also be loose and mobile, or very large and bulky. In either case, gum surgery would be required to correct this situation to ensure a stable and comfortable denture fit.

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 (alveoloplasty)
• Removal of excess bone (tori removal)
• Bone ridge reduction (alveolectomy)
• Removal of excess gum tissue (gingivoplasty or gingivectomy)
• Exposure and/or removal of impacted teeth

We will review your particular needs during your consultation appointment.