Knife-Edge Ridge
A severely resorbed alveolar ridge presenting a thin, sharp crest that provides insufficient bone width for standard implant placement.
Full Definition
A knife-edge ridge describes a morphological condition of the jaw in which post-extraction bone resorption has reduced the ridge to a narrow, blade-like crest. The term is widely used in clinical notes and implant planning documents to indicate that bone augmentation or ridge splitting will likely be required before implant placement. Editors should note the hyphenated compound adjective when it precedes a noun (knife-edge ridge) and the non-hyphenated form when used predicatively. The condition is distinct from a flat or wide ridge, and should not be conflated with general 'ridge deficiency'.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as a compound modifier before a noun. Avoid using interchangeably with 'ridge atrophy', which refers to the process rather than the resultant morphology.
In Context
- "Pre-operative imaging revealed a knife-edge ridge in the mandibular premolar region, necessitating ridge-splitting prior to implant placement." — Treatment planning report
- "The consultant documented a knife-edge ridge morphology and recommended bone grafting at a staged procedure." — Referral letter