A ridge too slim or short
On a scan, the bone may not have enough width or height for an implant in the position the crown needs. Nearby anatomy can limit the choice further. Seeing the cross-section often makes the recommendation easier to grasp.
Restorative Dentistry
Ridge Augmentation in Georgetown
The gum over a missing tooth can look perfectly healthy and still sit on thin bone. From Georgetown, find out how scans and examination guide decisions about ridge augmentation, and what the results might mean for your replacement.
What the surface hidesAsk what your imaging shows
Healthy pink gum, uncertain bone
Run your tongue over a healed gap and it may feel smooth and full. Underneath, the ridge of bone that once held the tooth could be narrower than it seems. That bone is what an implant or other replacement relies on, and augmentation is a way to build it up when it falls short of the plan.
This is why imaging so often comes before any grafting advice. A scan or X-ray can show the width, height and angle of the ridge and its relationship to nerves, the sinus and nearby roots. The findings, not the look of the gum, decide whether a graft is worth discussing.
When you come to our Bronte Street practice from Georgetown, we start with the replacement you are hoping for and examine the site. We will explain which imaging would help, whether a specialist should review it, and how any ridge treatment would link to the final tooth.
What imaging can reveal
Three findings that bring grafting into the conversation
Examination and imaging together show the ridge’s shape, the structures around it and how the planned tooth would sit. Ask your clinician to point out the finding that matters most.
A contour problem at the gumline
Some concerns show up more in the mirror than on a scan, such as a hollow beside a bridge or partial. Describe what you notice. Bone, gum thickness and the design of the restoration may each play a part.
Signs of earlier treatment
Images can show the effects of past extractions, grafts, implants or injury. Bring any older X-rays you have for comparison. History explains a lot, but the current images and examination decide what happens next.
A thin-looking ridge on an image does not always mean grafting. The need depends on the specific replacement planned.
Why build up the bone
Turning a borderline site into a workable one
If augmentation is indicated, it aims to give the planned treatment a site that suits it, such as enough bone to place an implant where it should go or a ridge outline that supports a natural-looking tooth. Ask what the images suggest would change after grafting.
Grafting comes with surgery, a healing period, review visits and, at times, further treatment. Follow-up imaging may also be needed. The amount of new bone cannot be guaranteed, and a successful graft does not ensure a successful implant. A sound plan sets this out clearly.
Patient information: AAP — ridge modification for implant planning
The scan and the plan, side by side
Ask the clinician to show where the future tooth would sit on your images and where the bone falls short. That comparison makes the reason for grafting concrete.
The order of procedures
Some grafts are placed at the same time as an implant, and others heal first. Ask which approach your findings support. The interval affects planning for work and a temporary tooth.
The graft material
Materials and membranes differ between procedures. Raise any preferences about their origin early on, and ask whether a different choice would affect the plan or the result.
From images to the final tooth
How a ridge treatment plan comes together
The approach and timing vary with what the imaging shows and the restoration planned. Ask who interprets your images and who carries out each stage.
Examine and image
The gap is examined and the right imaging arranged, alongside a review of your gums and medical history. Mention smoking, medications, earlier grafts, or trouble healing in the past. Share what you want from the new tooth.
Explain the findings and the proposal
The clinician walks you through the images, the proposed technique, materials, recovery, fees and alternatives. Ask about donor sites, membranes, and any later removal visit. Agree how the gap will be managed meanwhile.
Carry out the treatment
If you proceed, the area is treated with the comfort plan and method discussed. Written instructions for your procedure follow. Recovery varies, so rely on your own guidance rather than a friend’s experience.
Reassess, sometimes with new images
After healing, the site is checked and further imaging may be taken before the next stage. A comfortable gum is not enough evidence on its own. Ask what the clinician expects to see before moving on.
Supporting the graft as it matures
Protect it now so the next images are useful.
Keep your aftercare sheet and contact numbers close. Ask whether exercise, cleaning or an appliance could place pressure on the treated area.
Keep the temporary off the site
A partial or denture may need adjustment or a pause in wear. Do not assume it can rest on the area as before. Settle how you will manage meals and appearance before treatment.
Clean carefully, eat sensibly
You will be given cleaning steps for the site and your other teeth, plus guidance on food. Avoid pulling your lip down to look or pressing on the area. Check before you change the routine.
Report anything unexpected
Go to reviews even when you feel well. Contact the treating team about pain that worsens, bleeding that returns, discharge, or an opening in the wound, so they can decide whether to see you.
Patient information: Cambridge University Hospitals — bone grafting for implants
Georgetown imaging questions(905) 876-4488
Scans, X-rays and what they tell us
We can show you your images and explain them with a model. Ask about recovery and the final tooth as well.
What kind of imaging is used to plan ridge augmentation?
Standard dental X-rays may be enough for some questions, while three-dimensional imaging such as a cone beam CT scan can show the ridge’s width and nearby structures in more detail. Your clinician will explain which is needed and why.
Is a 3D scan safe?
Dental imaging uses low doses of radiation and is recommended only when the information is needed for planning. Tell the clinician if you are or might be pregnant, and ask what the scan will help decide.
Can I see my scan and have it explained?
Yes. Ask the clinician to show you the area of concern and how the planned tooth would relate to the bone. Seeing it often makes the recommendation clearer.
Can I bring X-rays from another dentist?
Yes, older images can help show how the site has changed. Ask your previous office to send them. New imaging may still be needed if the old images do not answer the current questions.
Will I need another scan after the graft heals?
Often the site is reassessed before implant placement, and imaging may be part of that. Whether a new scan is needed depends on the procedure and what the clinician must confirm.
If my scan shows thin bone, is grafting the only option?
No. Depending on the findings, a different implant approach, a bridge or a removable partial may be considered. Ask the clinician to compare the routes your images allow.
From Georgetown to Bronte Street
See your site clearly before you decide.
An assessment at our Bronte Street practice gives you a proper look beneath the gum. We will examine the gap, explain which imaging would answer your questions, and relate the findings to the tooth you want, including whether grafting or a different plan makes more sense.
If a site that has already been treated changes, use your treating clinician’s contact instructions or call us for advice.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
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