Pre-Prosthetic Surgery

If you currently wear dentures or plan on receiving dentures in the future, you should consider pre-prosthetic surgery. This treatment involves reshaping the mouth so that your dentures will fit securely and feel comfortable. Our oral surgery experts at Full Smile Dental offer pre-prosthetic surgery in Dumas, Canyon, Amarillo, Farwell, and Dalhart, TX.

Benefits of Pre-Prosthetic Surgery 

Dentures sit on the ridge of the jaw bone. This bone should be properly shaped, otherwise the dentures can slip around in the mouth, cause sores, and overall be uncomfortable. Ill-fitting dentures can discourage the use of dentures and make it easier for food and bacteria to become trapped beneath them. This increases the risk for gum disease and ongoing bad breath. Benefits of undergoing pre-prosthetic surgery include: 

• Enhanced aesthetics of dentures 
• Achieve maximum comfort when wearing dentures 
• Improve the function of your dentures 

Types of Pre-Prosthetic Surgery 

At Full Smile Dental, one of our skilled oral surgeons will evaluate your oral and maxillofacial structures to determine the right type of treatment. There are many pre-prosthetic surgery treatments available, and we will create a treatment plan custom to your needs and the goals you have for your dentures.

Ridge Augmentation 

After you lose teeth, the alveolar ridge can diminish. This is the area that holds the roots of your teeth. Ridge augmentation involves your surgeon placing a bone graft in areas where the bone has deteriorated to improve bone structure.  

Frenectomy

There are two bands of tissues inside the mouth: a lingual and a labial frenum. If the lingual or labial frenum are too large or too long, a frenectomy is performed to resize these tissues. This allows the tongue and lips to have proper range of motion. 

Alveoplasty

Alveoplasty refers to bone smoothing and reshaping. If the bony ridges that dentures sit upon are uneven, your surgeon can trim excess tissue and bone to reshape the area. 

Tooth Extractions 

Existing teeth may prohibit a denture from fitting correctly, especially if a tooth is badly damaged, impacted, or misaligned. Your surgeon can perform safe and comfortable tooth extractions to make room for the prosthesis. 

Candidates for Pre-Prosthetic Surgery

Pre-prosthetic surgery is ideal for patients who have sustained gum recession or jaw bone atrophy and need help reforming their smile. Some patients have too much gum tissue that interferes with the way the dentures sit inside the mouth and can benefit from having this tissue resized. If you are healthy enough to undergo general surgery, you are likely healthy enough for pre-prosthetic surgery. 

After undergoing pre-prosthetic surgery, your dentist can take impressions of your reshaped mouth to fabricate a properly fitted prosthesis. Our office will provide you with instructions on how to care for your dentures. We are also happy to discuss long-term options for tooth replacement if you are looking for an alternative to removable dentures, such as dental implants or 4-Hour Smile treatment.