Building a strong foundation for future.
Socket preservation
After a tooth is removed from the jaw, the alveolar bony ridge that contained and supported the tooth no longer receives stimulation from chewing forces and starts to atrophy. Staying true to the “use it or lose it” concept, both the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the bony ridge shrink rapidly and significantly after tooth removal. This makes the future placement of a dental implant substantially more difficult. Think of it this way: you are trying to build a house (implant), but there is no sufficient foundation (bony ridge dimension) to support the structure. Not only will construction become more difficult and unpredictable, but the long-term stability of the structure will also be compromised. Additionally, prolonged bone loss often gives rise to aesthetic compromises, as the bony ridge may cave in and form a divot.
By filling the void of the extraction socket with bone graft material, an inner scaffold is created to allow the bony ridge to heal without significant reduction in dimensions. Although this won’t halt all bone loss, it may slow it down substantially to allow a solid and aesthetic foundation for placement of future implants.
Ridge augmentation
Oftentimes when patients have decided to go forward with a dental implant, a significant amount of time has already passed since the time of tooth removal. Dentists are now faced with the functional and aesthetic challenges of an insufficient bony ridge as the result of years of bone loss. In this scenario, bone grafts will be required to be performed concurrently with the placement of implants in order to increase the dimension of the bony foundation.
Ridge augmentation procedures are often more complex, technically demanding and costly compared to socket preservation. Therefore, it is always advised to address bone loss proactively by performing socket preservation at the time of tooth removal, in order to promote overall oral health and prevent further complications down the road.
FAQs
It is imperative that you follow the post-operative care instructions carefully. Adhere to the antibiotic and oral rinse regimen, while ensuring that the surgical site is kept clean through conscientious home care. It is also important that you chew on the opposite side of the graft and be very careful with brushing to avoid disturbing the membrane protecting the graft. You will be asked to return at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the procedure for your follow up.
Like any medical procedure, bone graft cannot be “guaranteed” and is contingent upon individual differences in healing capacity. Bone grafts are subject to risk of failure, the most common reason being post-operative infection of the graft material. To minimize this risk, patients will be prescribed a course of oral antibiotics and anti-bacterial rinse to use after the procedure.
