Socket Preservation After Extraction: Protecting Your Jawbone for the Future

By New Dental Center, Al Ain, UAE · Tooth Extraction

When a tooth is removed, the bone that supported it begins to shrink. This is a natural process, but it can make replacing the tooth later more difficult. Socket preservation is a simple procedure, carried out at the time of extraction, that helps maintain the shape and volume of the bone. It is especially valuable if you plan to have an implant.

What Happens to Bone After Extraction

The bone around a tooth exists to support it. Once the tooth is gone, the body begins to resorb the bone, particularly in the first few months. The ridge can become narrower and shorter, and the gum can sink. In the front of the mouth, this can affect the appearance of a future implant or bridge.

How Socket Preservation Works

After the tooth is removed, the dentist cleans the socket and fills it with bone graft material. A membrane may be placed over the top, and the gum is closed with stitches. Over the following months, the graft acts as a scaffold for new bone to grow into.

Who Benefits Most

Socket preservation is recommended when you plan to replace the tooth with an implant, when the tooth is in a visible area, or when the walls of the socket are thin or damaged. It is less necessary if you do not plan to replace the tooth, or if an implant can be placed at the same time as the extraction.

Recovery

Recovery is similar to a normal extraction. You may have some swelling and discomfort for a few days. Avoid rinsing vigorously, smoking and chewing on the area. You may notice small granules of graft material in your mouth, which is normal in small amounts.

Planning for an Implant

Typically, an implant can be placed a few months after socket preservation, once the new bone has matured. A scan will confirm that the bone volume is suitable. In many cases, socket preservation avoids the need for a larger bone graft later.

Frequently Asked Questions