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Did you know that after a tooth is removed, the underlying bone naturally starts to shrink and change shape? This is where socket preservation comes in.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at this surgical procedure and why it’s an important step to achieving optimal dental outcomes.
Table of Contents
- What Happens After Tooth Extraction?
- What is Socket Preservation?
- The Socket Preservation Procedure
- Benefits of Socket Preservation
- OFI: Your Oral Surgeon in Deer Park, IL
- FAQs About Socket Preservation
Key Takeaway
Socket preservation is a procedure performed after tooth extraction that helps prevent bone loss. It maintains your facial structure, and ensures the success of future dental treatments like implants.
What Happens After Tooth Extraction?
When a tooth is extracted, the empty space left behind (the tooth socket) isn’t stable. Here’s what typically happens:
- Bone loss: The jawbone, no longer stimulated by the tooth’s roots, starts to resorb or shrink. Over time, this bone loss can lead to changes in the shape of your jaw and face.
- Gum and facial tissue changes: As the bone recedes, the gum tissue that once surrounded the tooth also shrinks. This can cause your facial tissues to sag, potentially leading to a prematurely aged appearance.
- Jaw defects: In more severe cases, bone loss can cause the jawbone to become weak and thin. This can lead to functional problems and difficulty with speaking or eating.
What is Socket Preservation?
Socket preservation, also known as alveolar ridge preservation procedure, is designed to prevent complications after tooth extraction. During this dental procedure, your oral surgeon will place a bone graft or bone substitute into the empty tooth socket.
Types of Bone Graft Materials
We offer several options for bone graft material, each with its own advantages:
- Autogenous: This type of graft uses bone from the patient’s body. The most common site for harvesting autogenous bone is the iliac crest, which is the upper part of the hip bone.
- Allografts: This type of graft uses a donor bone (human bone). Donated allografts are taken from American cadavers and sterilized using the highest standard of tissue safety.
- Synthetic: This type of graft uses bone from synthetic materials such as demineralized bone matrix and graft composites.
The Socket Preservation Procedure
The procedure is typically performed at the time of extraction and is relatively straightforward:
- Tooth extraction: Your tooth is carefully removed, and the socket is cleaned of any debris.
- Graft placement: The chosen bone graft material is placed into the empty socket.
- Covering the graft: A collagen membrane and stitches are used to cover the graft.
Healing and Aftercare
The healing time varies depending on the individual and the type of graft material used. Your oral surgeon will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions to ensure optimal healing. It’s important to follow these instructions carefully to prevent complications and delayed healing.
Benefits of Socket Preservation
Socket preservation offers numerous benefits:
- Preserve your smile: By preventing bone loss and gum recession, it can help you maintain a healthy, youthful smile.
- Improve the success of future implants: A solid foundation of bone is essential for the success of dental implants. Bone preservation ensures that you have enough bone for a stable implant.
- Prevent jaw deterioration: Bone loss after tooth extraction can lead to changes in the shape of your jaw. Socket preservation can help to prevent the deterioration of the jaw bone .
- Minimize the risk of dry socket: Socket preservation can help to reduce the risk of dry socket, a painful complication that can occur after tooth extraction.
OFI: Your Oral Surgeon in Deer Park, IL
A tooth extraction and dental bone graft performed by an oral surgeon will ensure optimal outcomes. Our oral surgeons, Dr. J. Travis Thompson, and Dr. Stephen Martin specialize in dental implants and dental bone grafting.
If you are searching for an oral surgeon in Deer Park, IL or an oral surgeon near me, we can help! Call (847) 381-0106 to book an appointment or complete the online inquiry form.
FAQs About Socket Preservation
Bone loss begins almost immediately after a tooth is extracted. Within the first three months, the jawbone can lose up to 50% of its width. This rapid bone resorption continues at a slower rate over time, leading to significant changes in your jaw’s structure if left untreated.
The healing time for socket preservation can vary depending on the type of bone graft material used and the individual patient’s condition. Generally, the initial healing phase may take around 4 to 6 weeks. However, complete healing and integration of the bone graft usually occur over a period of several months, typically between 3 to 6 months.
Socket preservation aims to preserve the bone structure indefinitely. Once the bone graft material has fully integrated with the natural bone, it can provide a long-lasting foundation for future dental work, such as implants. However, if a dental implant is not placed in the tooth socket, the bone will eventually start to deteriorate because of a lack of stimulation from the tooth root.
