Supplemental Procedures

Prepare for Dental Implant Success

Your oral health is the main factor that determines the outcome of your dental implants. Luckily, supplemental procedures performed before implant placement can help improve the short and long-term success of your dental implants.

Dr. Herman and his team in Vincennes offer several supplemental procedures that are designed to help prepare your teeth, gums, and jawbone for dental implant placement. They help form a strong, healthy foundation that keeps the implant secured for years to come.

Bone Grafting

Jawbone deterioration is a natural side effect of tooth loss, and a bone graft works to reverse the effects. A bone graft is the application of donated bone material to an area of the jawbone that has been weakened over time. The grafted bone tissue encourages the growth of new bone in the area, making it strong enough to support a dental implant.

Soft Tissue Augmentation

Soft tissue augmentation involves repairing areas of the gums where the tissues have receded. Since healthy gums help protect and support your natural teeth, we want to make sure they are healthy enough to support your dental implants, too.

Ridge Augmentation

When a tooth is missing the surrounding tissues may lose their natural shape, making it more difficult to achieve an ideal appearance with tooth restoration. To restore the natural shape of the gums and jaw, Dr. Herman can perform a ridge augmentation procedure.

During this treatment, bone and soft tissue grafts are used to reform the gums and jawbone to look more natural and repair damaged areas where the tooth once was. It helps prepare the area for dental implant placement and can be performed when a tooth has been missing for a while or immediately after a tooth extraction. Ridge augmentation has also been especially helpful for patients who have bone defects or have experienced physical trauma to the jaw.

Sinus Augmentation

If a patient needs a dental implant in their upper jawbone, sometimes there simply isn’t enough bone to support it. When bone loss occurs in this area the sinuses enlarge, resulting in insufficient bone tissue. In these cases, donated bone tissue may be placed into the sinus cavity above the upper jaw. This will thicken the bone and allow a dental implant to be placed.

Gum Disease Treatment

Having gums that are free from infection is crucial for the success of your dental implants. If you experience signs of gum (periodontal) disease–red and swollen gums, bleeding while brushing, or shifted teeth–you may need gum disease treatment to clear up any infection before your implant placement procedure.

Learn More About Preparing for Dental Implants

If you’re missing teeth and are considering replacing them with dental implants, schedule a consultation with Dr. Herman. During this visit, he can answer any questions you have about implants, determine if you’d benefit from any supplemental procedures, and help you decide if this treatment is right for you.