Surgical modification of the hyperplastic anterior maxillary ridge

H yperplastic tissue that replaces the bone of the residual alveolar ridge is incompatible with the demand for healthy, denture-supporting tissues (Figs 1 and 2>.1,* Its presence, particularly in the anterior part of the edentulous maxillae, usually necessitates surgical excision.3-6 The surgical intervention may be accompanied by a vestibulopiasty, which may also involve a grafting procedure. Injections of Silastic (Dow Corning, Midland, Mich.) or sclerosing solutions have also have proposed.7-9 The objectives of most reported techniques include (1) firm, healthy denture-supporting tissues, (2) maintenance or acquisition of maximum vestibular depth, and (3) avoidance of scars at the depth of the vestibule that might undermine the development of a denture’s correct peripheral seal. The objective of this report is to describe a surgical technique that we have used over the last 3 years in an effort to fulfill these objectives.