A tuberosity may form as the bony protrusion behind the final molar in the upper jaw erupts. This is usually covered by your gum. Tuberosity reductions will make the protrusion smaller.

Why Get a Tuberosity Reduction

Many people get a tuberosity treatment in Los Angeles, CA. While some people who have all their teeth will not have issues with a tuberosity, those who lose a tooth or need dentures may have an issue where the tuberosity hangs down beyond other parts of the upper jaw. This means that the denture won’t fit properly and may easily become dislodged. 

Dentures have to make a seal in order to make sure that the denture stays in place. A larger tuberosity will prevent the seal from forming at all.

While tuberosity reductions are not a common practice today, it is an important procedure for those who are growing older and losing their teeth. In addition, those who are getting implants in their upper jaw will also need this procedure in some cases. This is because it can cause occlusion or difficult with teeth and jaws closing properly.

How to Prepare for Tuberosity Reduction

An oral surgeon will perform a tuberosity reduction after a thorough evaluation and x-ray. Working with your dentist or a prosthodontist who specializes in dentures, your oral surgeon will recommend how much reduction is needed and on which areas where you you are experiencing a tuberosity.

A tuberosity may be caused by an extended sinus cavity. In this case, x-rays will need to show where your sinus cavity is in relation to the tuberosity in the mouth. The prosthodontist will make an acrylic guide for your jaw. This will help the oral surgeon prepare for surgery, including how much bone and tissue will need to be removed.

How Are Dental Guides Created for Tuberosity Reduction

Before you go through a tuberosity reduction, your prosthodontist create a guide. This process includes:

• Making an impression of the jaw
• Creating a plaster cast
• Grinding down the tuberosity areas of the cast so that it is level
• Make the guide from the cast for the oral surgeon

Once finished, the guide will fit over the gums like a demure would. As the oral surgeon uses the guide, he will test the mold to make sure enough bone and tissue have been reduced. In some cases, additional gum tissue may become bulbous at the tuberosity site and will need to be trimmed or removed as well.

Tuberosity Reduction Procedure

A local anesthesia is given to the patient to numb the area before the procedure. Some dentists also provide medicine through an IV sedation. ]\The surgeon will remove any extra gum tissue. Bone and tissue may need to be trimmed down underneath. The guide will then be tested on the mouth to make sure that dentures will seal correctly.

The area will be stitched up once the surgery is over. The procedure usually only takes an hour or less.

Tuberosity Reduction Follow-Up

Dentists may provide antibiotics and pain medication after the procedure. You will be advised on how to rinse your mouth during recovery. For those recovering after a tuberosity reduction, stitches and the affected area will need to be kept clean so that it can heal. Stitches are typically removed 7 to 10 days later. ]Some swelling will occur in the area but typically goes away within two to three days. You should not wear old dentures of any kind at this time, unless your dentist has provided some specifically for your recovery.

This is called a temporary or immediate denture and may be worn continuously for one to two weeks after the surgery. You should follow instructions of your dentist on when to stop using an immediate denture, or your dentist may recommend a date when the dentures will need to be realigned or replaced. Tissue may heal and swelling can go down causing a need for new dentures.

Risks of Tuberosity Reduction

Infection and excess bleeding are the top risks from tuberosity reduction. As the tuberosity and sinus cavity are typically close to one another, the oral surgeon may need to enter the sinus cavity during the procedure. If you notice blood in your nose after the surgery, there may be a hole in your sinuses. You should contact your surgeon immediately if you notice this issue.

However, if you experience any of the following, you should contact your dentist or surgeon.

• Notice excessive bleeding or large amounts of swelling within 24 to 48 hours
• Feel your stitches have opened or loosened
• Believe you have a hole in your sinus cavity
• Have symptoms of an infection like chills or fever