Tuberosity Reduction

Benefits
• Tuberosity reduction makes tuberosity less prominent
• Allows people who have lost all their teeth to get upper dentures

Who is this procedure for?
• People who have lost their teeth and whose tuberosity hangs down beyond the rest of the upper jaw
• People with teeth who are receiving implants in the upper jaw may need this as well.

What happens before the procedure?
Tuberosity reduction is performed by an oral surgeon in coordination with the dentist. Before the procedure the patients will need X – rays, as in some cases the sinus cavity extends into the tuberosity and the surgeon needs to know exactly where the sinus cavity is in relation to the tuberosity. The dentist usually makes a mold of the jaw to show the surgeon how much tissue and bone needs to be removed. The mold is done by making a plaster cast and grinding down the tuberosity to the right level. The mold fits over the gums just like a denture. During the procedure the surgeon will use the mold to check if enough tissue and bone have been removed.

Patients receive local anesthesia and intravenous sedation before the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?
The surgeon makes a cut in the gum and removes any extra gum tissue and trim down the bone underneath. This is when he or she tests the mold to make sure the right amount of gum and tissue has been removed. When the mold fits perfectly, the surgeon stitches the area closed. The procedure takes a little under an hour.

What happens after the procedure?
Post-op treatment includes antibiotics and pain medication. Patients are taught how to rinse their mouth regularly and how to keep the area clean. If the surgeon hasn’t used stitches that dissolve on their own, patients need to come back in 7 – 10 days to have them removed.