Method and apparatus for performing ridge augmentation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for augmenting an endentulous alveolar ridge of a patient comprises the steps of (1) making a provisional denture-stent with a hollow space on the underside to account for the width, height and extent of the desired augmentation; (2) making an incision in, and reflecting, the gingiva where the augmentation is desired; (3) inserting bone graft material on the cortical plate; (4) suturing the gingiva; and (5) inserting the provisional stent over the bone graft material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A denture-stent for placement over an alveolar ridge to be reconstructed into a desired shape by placing bone graft material under gingival tissue on the alveolar ridge, the denture-stent having a surface conforming to the desired shape of the alveolar ridge to be reconstructed and being adapted to maintain said bone graft material in the desired shape while the alveolar ridge and the bone graft material fuses.  
     
     
         2 . The denture stent of  claim 1 , wherein the denture stent is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of hard acrylic and plastic.  
     
     
         3 . The denture stent of  claim 1  further comprising a soft-line material lining the surface on the surface to fill space between the surface and the gingival tissue.  
     
     
         4 . A denture stent for an atrophied area of a jawbone made by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) constructing a model of said atrophied area of said jawbone;    b) placing wax on an atrophied area of said model corresponding to the atrophied area of said jawbone;    c) constructing a plaster impression model of said wax;    d) constructing a final master model of said denture-stent having an underside area with a shape conforming to said plaster impression model;    e) performing try-in of the final master model on the atrophied area of said jawbone; and    f) constructing a final denture-stent from said final master model.    
     
     
         5 . The denture stent of  claim 4  wherein said model of said atrophied area of said jawbone is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of stone and plaster.  
     
     
         6 . The denture stent of  claim 4  wherein said final master model is constructed of a wax and acrylic mixture.  
     
     
         7 . The denture stent of  claim 4  wherein said final denture-stent is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of hard acrylic and plastic.  
     
     
         8 . The denture stent of  claim 4  wherein the method includes the additional step of adding prosthetic teeth to said final master model.