Socket Preservation Procedure | Montgomery AL
Preserving Your Jaw Bone after Extraction
Removal of teeth is sometimes necessary because of pain, infection, bone loss, or due to a fracture in the tooth. The bone that holds the tooth in place (the socket) is often damaged by disease and/or infection, resulting in a deformity of the jaw after the tooth is extracted. In addition, when teeth are extracted the surrounding bone and gums can shrink and recede very quickly, resulting in unsightly defects and a collapse of the lips and cheeks.
These jaw defects can create major problems in performing restorative dentistry whether your treatment involves dental implants, bridges, or dentures. Jaw deformities from tooth removal can be prevented and repaired by a procedure called socket preservation. Socket preservation can greatly improve your smile’s appearance and increase your chances for successful dental implants.
Several techniques can be used to preserve the bone and minimize bone loss after an extraction. In one common method, the tooth is removed and the socket is filled with bone or bone substitute. It is then covered with gum, artificial membrane, or tissue, which encourages your body’s natural ability to repair the socket. With this method, the socket heals, eliminating shrinkage and collapse of the surrounding gum and facial tissues. The newly formed bone in the socket also provides a foundation for an implant to replace the tooth. This procedure adds no pain or downtime to the tooth removal.
If socket preservation is not performed at the time of tooth removal a ridge augmentaiton will frequently need to be perforemd. Bone is much harder to “grow” than it is to maintain. Ridge augmentaiton is more time intensive, has more downtime, and costs more. This is why Dr. Nizam and Goerhing frequently recommend performing socket preservation procedure with tooth extraction.
Do You Need a Bone Grafting Procedure?
Drs. Nizam and Ivory can utilize bone grafts to make your jawbone more suitable for the placement of dental implants, as well as repair defects of the jaws. Contact us today!