Just as our outward physical anatomy is different from person to person, the internal anatomy of our mouths are similarly unique. And when transplant surgery, or preparation for a prosthesis requires a level, “bump free” ridgeline in the roof or bottom of the mouth, alveoloplasty is usually performed.
“Alveoloplasty,” then, which is named for the spongy “alveolar bone” that surrounds the tooth's roots, is a surgical procedure used to re-contour supporting bone. It is often used prior to the placement of dentures because without this re-contouring of the bone, a denture would never properly fit the wearer. Aside from covering the surgery, this dental procedure code also refers specifically to the number of teeth or tooth spaces treated – in this case, at least four in any single quadrant of the mouth. These quadrants are simply referred to as: upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left. A “tooth space” in this instance would be an area where a tooth should exist, but does not at the time of surgery due to loss or prior extraction.
With this procedure, the surgical tooth extractions are completed first. Once complete, your dentist may need to make an incision along your gumline to provide greater access to the alveolar bone by creating what is known as a “surgical flap.”
Once the flap is created, your dentist would “fold” down this flap of tissue, and then shave down a portion of the bone with dental tools wherever necessary. After this point, your dentist would either suture the gum tissue back into place, or simply fold the tissue back into place, and apply an immediate upper denture or an immediate lower denture.
Follow-up care for this procedure is routine, and generally will involve instruction about how to care for your mouth to prevent infection, what sort of diet to consume, and a prescription narcotic for pain. Some bruising may also occur, and some surgeons may prescribe antibiotics – particularly if they are concerned about your overall health and the risk of infection.
To look up and find more cdt dental codes from the American Dental Association, please visit our complete Dental Procedure Code Library.