Patients scheduled to have pre-prosthetic surgery should be familiar with basic information.  If there are further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

• What is pre-prosthetic surgery? It is the surgical removal of excess soft tissue and/or bone (in the upper or lower jaw or both) prior to the use of a removable partial or full denture.  This is usually a minor surgical procedure performed as an outpatient under IV sedation to insure the proper fit, comfort and functionality of a removable oral prosthesis (denture or partial).
• What type procedures are included?
  • Alveoloplasty – Surgical reshaping of the upper and lower jaw ridges (that previously supported the teeth that were lost ) to remove sharp bony projections or undercuts.
  • Torus or Tori removal (AKA exostosis) – Surgical removal of excess bone in the roof of the mouth (palate) and the lower jaw next to the tongue. This procedure is mostly required to accommodate an upper denture or lower partial denture and less commonly in dentate patients when these benign bone formations grow so large there is insufficient space for the tongue.
  • Alveolar ridge bone reduction – * surgical removal of excess vertical height of bone to allow sufficient space for a full or partial denture.
  • Removal of excess gingival (gum) soft tissue (AKA Gingivectomy) *excess and loose soft tissue on the alveolar ridge is surgically removed to improve the stability of the denture. If the underlying tissue (foundational support) is loose, the removable denture and partial will be loose and unstable.

* Note:  Often it is necessary to undergo alveolar ridge bone and soft tissue reduction in the same area.

Example is a maxillary tuberosity reduction – posterior alveolar ridge in the upper jaw (maxilla).