Ridge Split with Implant Placement in Lakewood, WA

For many patients in Lakewood and Tacoma, the primary obstacle to dental implants is a jawbone that has become too narrow or “thin” over time. While traditional bone grafting is a common solution, the office of Dr. Kevin Kim, DDS offers a more integrated alternative called Ridge Split with Implant Placement. This advanced surgical technique allows Dr. Kim to widen a narrow jawbone and place the dental implants during the exact same appointment. By “expanding” your existing bone rather than just adding material on top of it, we can often shorten your total treatment time and achieve incredible stability for your new smile.

The ridge split procedure is ideal for patients who have adequate bone height but lack the necessary width to fully surround a titanium implant. As a specialized Dental Implant Periodontist, Dr. Kim uses precision instruments to gently “split” or expand the thin ridge of the jawbone, creating a small channel. Because bone is living tissue with a degree of flexibility, it can be widened to create a perfect “cradle” for the implant. This method is particularly effective because the implant is immediately surrounded by your own living, nutrient-rich bone, which promotes faster and more predictable Osseointegration.

The Advantages of “Same-Day” Expansion

At Dr. Kevin Kim’s Office, we prefer the ridge split technique whenever possible because of its biological benefits:

• Fewer Surgeries: Unlike traditional block grafting, which requires a separate healing phase, the ridge split allows for Immediate Implant Placement.
• Faster Healing: Because the implant is tucked inside your natural bone, it benefits from the body’s internal blood supply, leading to robust healing.
• Natural Contours: This technique restores the natural width of your jaw, ensuring that your final Zirconia or Porcelain Crown looks and feels like a natural tooth.
• Minimal Discomfort: Dr. Kim uses Computer-Guided Surgery and minimally invasive tools to ensure the process is gentle and precise.

During the procedure, once the implant is placed into the newly expanded space, Dr. Kim will often fill any small remaining gaps with a minor bone graft and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF). This ensures that as the site heals over the next few months, the jawbone becomes even denser and wider than it was before.

Dr. Kevin Kim uses CBCT 3D Imaging to determine if your bone has the right density and structure for a ridge split. To learn more about how ridge expansion compares to other grafting methods, you can visit the American Academy of Periodontology or the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. If you’ve been told your bone is too thin for implants, Dr. Kim is here to show you how modern technology can expand your possibilities.