What is a Tuberosity Reduction
Tuberosity reduction is the process to make the rounded bony protrusion that’s behind your last molar in your upper jaw a little bit smaller. This is the area that’s covered by the gums. Now, if you’ve got all of your teeth, this isn’t a problem, but if you lose upper teeth and need dentures, your tuberosity may hang a little bit lower than the rest of the upper jaw, making it difficult for dentures to fit properly. The upper denture stays in the location that it’s in since that is a place that makes a seal with the jaw and the top of your mouth. A larger tuberosity does prevent this seal from being created. But, some people with teeth who have implants in their upper jaw may need this. If the tuberosity is too big, it can interfere with how the jaws and teeth come together, and in turn, it can be a problem later on.
The oral surgeon along with the maxillofacial surgeon are usually the ones who do this. They will coordinate with the dentist that’s specializing in this. In some people, it may extend into the sinus cavity, in which the surgeon will know when yere your sinus cavity is in relation to this, thereby giving them a good chance to figure out where to do the procedure.
At this point, the surgeon will sedate you, cut and remove any gum tissue, and they may trim the bone under this. If a guide is made, it will be tested on the teeth. The surgeon will test the mold within the mouth to ensure that enough bone and tissue have been removed, and in some people, usually the bulbous gum tissue needs to be trimmed and removed, but other people may need a little bit more. If you’re a bit scared of the procedure, they may use more than local anesthesia for it, but instead IV sedation. Once this is over, the area is closed with stitches, and the procedure takes less than an hour.
You may need some antibiotics and medication after this, but the oral surgeon will tell you how to rinse out the mouth so the area is cleaned, and the stitches will from there be removed in 7-10 days if they’re not the dissolving type.
You will typically have swelling in that area for a few days, and you shouldn’t wear your old dentures unless the dentist specifically made them for this procedure. Some may need to wear a denture temporarily for about 2 weeks, but that isn’t always the case. From there, you can get better fitted for dentures, so that you’re able to use them in an effective sense, and from there, create a better, more rewarding result for your teeth over time.
A denture is important for the teeth, but sometimes if it’s improperly fitted, there may be other options used. You can, in turn, use this to create a better result for your teeth.
