Rebuilding Jawbone for Dental Implants and Long-Term Oral Health
When a tooth is removed, the jawbone in that area can shrink over time. This is a normal healing response, but it can create problems if there is not enough bone left to support a dental implant or maintain the natural shape of the gums and jaw.
A ridge augmentation is a bone grafting procedure used to rebuild the width, height, or shape of the jawbone after bone loss has occurred. 
At Schiffman Oral Surgery, we perform ridge augmentation procedures for patients who need bone reconstruction before dental implant placement or other restorative dental treatment.
Our goal is to create a stronger, healthier foundation for future treatment while making the process as clear, comfortable, and predictable as possible.
What is Ridge Augmentation?
The “ridge” is the part of the jawbone that supports the teeth. After a tooth is removed, the ridge may become thinner, shorter, or uneven.
A ridge augmentation is a procedure that adds bone graft material to rebuild the missing bone. Depending on the situation, the goal may be to make the ridge wider, taller, smoother, or better shaped for a dental implant or prosthetic tooth.
Ridge augmentation may be performed soon after a tooth is removed, or it may be done months or years later if bone loss has already occurred.
Why would I need Ridge Augmentation?
Dental implants need enough healthy bone to support them. If the ridge has become too thin or too shallow, an implant may not be able to be placed safely or in the ideal position without rebuilding the bone first.
Ridge augmentation may be recommended if:
- A tooth has been missing for a long time
- Bone shrank after an extraction
- There was infection or bone loss around a tooth
- Trauma caused loss of bone
- A previous extraction site healed with a defect
- The jawbone is too narrow for an implant
- The gum or bone contour needs to be improved for a more natural result
In many cases, patients first learn they may need ridge augmentation after being evaluated for a dental implant.
“My Dentist Said I Don’t Have Enough Bone for an Implant”
This is one of the most common reasons patients are referred to our office.
Being told that you do not have enough bone for an implant does not necessarily mean that you cannot have an implant. It often means that the bone needs to be rebuilt first.
At Schiffman Oral Surgery, we routinely evaluate patients who have been told they have bone loss or inadequate bone for implant placement. We will review your imaging, explain the problem in plain English, and discuss whether ridge augmentation, another type of bone graft, or a different implant plan makes the most sense.
How We Evaluate the Jawbone
Careful planning is very important for ridge augmentation.
In many cases, we will recommend a CBCT scan, which is a 3D dental scan that allows us to evaluate the jawbone in much greater detail than a standard x-ray.
A CBCT scan helps us determine:
- How much bone is missing
- Whether the ridge is too thin, too short, or irregularly shaped
- Where an implant would ideally be placed
- Whether nearby nerves, sinuses, or other structures need to be considered
- What type of grafting approach is most appropriate
- Whether grafting and implant placement can be done together or should be staged
This planning helps us create a treatment plan that is safer, more predictable, and better tailored to your specific anatomy.
What happens during Ridge Augmentation?
Ridge augmentation is performed in our comfortable oral surgery office in Woodmere, NY.
First, we make sure you are completely comfortable. Depending on the extent of the grafting, your medical history, and your preferences, the procedure may be performed with local anesthesia, laughing gas, IV sedation, or a combination of these options.
During the procedure, the gum tissue is gently opened to access the area of bone loss. Bone graft material is then carefully placed to rebuild the ridge. In some cases, a protective membrane, PRF, small fixation screws, or other supportive materials may be used to help stabilize the graft while it heals.
The gum tissue is then repositioned and closed with stitches.
Over time, your body remodels the grafted area and creates a stronger foundation for future implant treatment.
What is the Bone Graft made of?
Bone graft material can come from several sources. In many ridge augmentation procedures, carefully processed bone graft material is used to rebuild the area and support new bone formation.
The graft acts as a scaffold. Your body gradually incorporates or replaces the graft material with your own bone as healing progresses.
In some more advanced cases, a patient’s own bone may be used, or different grafting materials may be combined depending on the size and shape of the defect.
We will explain what type of graft material we recommend and why it is appropriate for your treatment plan.
What is recovery like?
Recovery after ridge augmentation depends on the size and location of the graft.
Some soreness, swelling, bruising, and mild bleeding are normal for the first few days. The area may feel tight or tender as the gum tissue heals over the grafted bone.
After ridge augmentation, we may recommend:
- Eating soft foods for the first several days
- Avoiding chewing directly on the grafted area
- Avoiding sharp, crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods
- Avoiding smoking or vaping
- Keeping the area clean
- Using warm salt water rinses when instructed
- Taking medications exactly as prescribed
- Avoiding strenuous exercise early in healing
- Keeping all follow-up appointments
It is very important not to disturb the graft while it is healing.
How long does healing take?
Ridge augmentation usually takes several months to heal before the area is ready for implant placement.
The exact timeline depends on the size of the graft, the location in the mouth, your overall health, and whether an implant was placed at the same time.
In many cases, we allow the graft to mature before placing the implant. This helps improve the chance that the implant can be placed in a strong and stable position.
We will give you a clear timeline based on your individual treatment plan.
Is Ridge Augmentation Safe?
When properly planned and performed, ridge augmentation is a well-established and predictable procedure.
As with any surgery, there are possible risks, including pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, delayed healing, graft exposure, partial or complete graft failure, need for additional grafting, or changes in the surrounding gum tissue.
Good planning, careful technique, and proper post-operative care help reduce these risks.
We will review your medical history, imaging, and treatment goals before recommending the best approach.
Why choose Schiffman Oral Surgery?
Ridge augmentation is a technique-sensitive procedure. Successful treatment depends on careful diagnosis, proper graft selection, surgical experience, and an understanding of where the future implant or restoration needs to go.
At Schiffman Oral Surgery, Dr. Leonard Schiffman and Dr. Michael Schiffman have extensive experience with dental implant surgery, bone grafting, and ridge reconstruction procedures.
We work closely with your restorative dentist to help create the best foundation for your implant and final tooth replacement. Our goal is to make the process clear, comfortable, and predictable from start to finish.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have been told that you do not have enough bone for a dental implant, or if you are interested in rebuilding bone after tooth loss, call 516-569-1111 to schedule a consultation. You will be examined in our state of the art private office in Woodmere, NY and a custom, personalized treatment plan will be tailored to suit your specific desires and needs.
Dr. Leonard Schiffman and Dr. Michael Schiffman offer oral surgery services to the Five Towns in Long Island, New York and surrounding towns on the South Shore of Nassau County including Woodmere NY • Hewlett NY • Cedarhurst NY • Valley Stream NY • Woodsburgh NY • Lawrence NY • Inwood NY • Far Rockaway NY • Lynbrook NY • Oceanside NY • Rockville Centre NY