Careful management of the extraction sockets at the time the tooth is removed will prevent unsightly bone loss as well as a better aesthetic result, regardless of whether a tooth is to be replaced with a dental implant or a bridge.
The socket preservation graft can help manage the tooth extraction site and is used immediately after one or more teeth have been extracted.
After an extraction, some of the soft tissue (gums) and bone around a tooth that has been infected for some time or had periodontal disease is lost. Other extractions are difficult and may require the removal of some bone in order to extract the entire tooth, or the bone is very thin to start with.
When necessary, to avoid collapse of the socket (up to 60% loss of bone width in the first year after extraction) bone is placed into the socket at the time of extraction. This grafted bone will augment the site to its natural and original state. The bone, in the form of particles, is obtained from a bone bank. This bone is placed into the site of the extraction and then we will place and secure a barrier to the oral environment. Not only will this technique augment the tissue, it will also preserve the normal contours of the soft tissue and bone.
We have found that socket preservation grafts offer greater success for the future implant since the normal architecture of soft tissues and bone have been preserved to a greater extent. In addition, the amount of surgery time and need for further grafting is minimized. The implant can also be placed in a more natural position, facilitating the best possible functional and aesthetic result.
