Pre-prosthetic surgery is a preemptive operation used to prepare a patient for the insertion of dentures or other prosthesis. In the same way that people’s eye and hair color are different because of genetics, so is the shape of their jaws and mouths. In some cases, patients’ mouths are shaped or have developed in a way that makes the placement of a prosthesis difficult.
At Oral & Facial Surgery of New Mexico, we want to ensure that your prosthesis fits comfortably. If this is not possible with the current shape of your mouth, Dr. Heiner may be able to reshape certain parts of your mouth to allow for a better fit. The type of pre-prosthetic procedure you need will depend on how much needs to change for you to achieve a proper prosthetic fit. When you visit one of our offices in Las Cruces, NM or Roswel NM , Dr. Heiner can discuss your treatment options with you.
Why do I need pre-prosthetic surgery?
When patients have been missing teeth for a long time and haven’t sought out a replacement option, the jaw bone loses the stimulation it needs to remain healthy. Without tooth roots to stimulate it, the jaw bone quickly begins deteriorating. This loss of bone can result in facial sagging and can make the placement of a denture or other prosthetic very difficult. In other cases, patients are simply born with a mouth that is not adequately shaped for denture placement. The best way to find out if you need pre-prosthetic surgery is to visit Dr. Heiner for a consultation appointment. He can thoroughly examine your mouth and health history and determine whether pre-prosthetic surgery will address your needs and help restore your smile.
Pre-Prosthetic Oral Procedures
There are a few types of procedures that can be performed to prepare your mouth for a prosthesis:
- Bone ridge reduction
- Excess bone or tissue removal
- Bone smoothing or reshaping
- Bone or tissue grafting
Dr. Heiner can perform any of the above procedures at our offices in Las Cruces, and Roswell, NM. He will discuss your treatment options during your consultation appointment and oral exam and explain which procedure will help improve your denture fit.
