Esthetic ridge augmentation

After a tooth is lost, the gums can can shrink, creating a ridge defect.

Different procedures can be used to correct these defects.

	This patient was unhappy with the contour of his gums around the missing tooth. The blue coloration is a tattoo created by minute metal particles within his gums (from a failed root canal).
	The bluish gum tissue was removed and the ridge was augmented with a graft, giving a more pleasant and natural contour.