Embarking on the journey to restore a perfect smile with dental implants is an exciting prospect. However, achieving the best treatment outcomes relies on meticulous diagnostics, careful treatment planning, and precise care delivery. Among the most critical considerations for dental implant success is the vital role played by healthy and adequate bone support. It's the very reason a periodontal procedure like socket preservation is essential.
When a tooth is lost or extracted, the surrounding bone can start to deteriorate over time, compromising bone mass and diminishing the amount of support the area can provide for a future dental implant.
Insufficient alveolar bone prevents proper implant placement and creates potential instability and a higher risk of implant failure. Plus, as the alveolar bone shrinks after an extraction, it can also affect the appearance of the tissue under a conventional dental bridge, compromise the support for a removable denture, and even impact facial appearance to produce a hollow and haggard look.
Fortunately, a simple bone grafting procedure known as socket preservation, performed following a dental extraction, offers numerous benefits in maintaining oral health and facilitating future dental interventions. In brief, the procedure mitigates the risk of bone resorption by promoting the regeneration of bone in an extraction site.
Socket preservation typically involves placing bone graft material into the socket left by an extracted tooth. Various graft materials exist, including autografts (patient bone), allografts (donor bone), xenografts (animal bone), and synthetic materials. And while autografts offer the ultimate compatibility, synthetic and allograft materials advancements have provided viable and popular alternatives.
Remember, as socket preservation maintains bone volume, it also helps preserve the natural contours of the periodontal tissues to help ensure better restoration and facial aesthetics while facilitating the placement of future dental implants and ensuring a stable foundation for prosthetic teeth.
At the office of Sunrise Blvd, we firmly believe in taking a proactive approach to care. Socket preservation is a valuable dental procedure that safeguards your long-term oral health, prevents bone resorption at an extraction site, and allows our practice to address potential treatment challenges before they arise.
Socket preservation involves placing a grafting material into the empty tooth socket after a tooth is removed. This graft helps stimulate new bone growth and prevents the surrounding bone from shrinking, which can compromise the stability of future dental implants.
The grafting material used in socket preservation can be sourced from various places, including your own body (autograft), a donor (allograft), an animal (xenograft), or it can be synthetic. Each type of graft has its benefits and drawbacks, so discussing your options with our dental professionals is essential.
At our practice, we believe that socket preservation is an essential part of maintaining optimal oral health after tooth extraction. By taking a proactive approach to care, we can help ensure the long-term success of your dental implants and protect your overall well-being.
If you're considering dental implants or have recently had a tooth removed, talk to our dedicated staff about whether socket preservation is right for you. We'll be happy to discuss your options and help you make the best decision for your unique needs and goals.
