When it comes to replacing your missing teeth, you cannot go wrong in choosing dental implants. However, what if you need to have a tooth extracted? Will you be eligible to receive these permanent prosthetics? This particular question is why many dentists now recommend socket preservation after undergoing this type of procedure. Not only is it safe and reliable, but it helps to stabilize neighboring natural teeth, creating a more structurally sound environment for your future dental implants. Read on to learn more about this process and its many benefits when restoring your smile.
What is Socket Preservation?
Socket preservation is the clinical phrase used to describe a bone graft. Because bone deterioration can occur quickly after having a tooth extracted, your dentist may recommend this additional treatment to safeguard your smile and prevent any natural teeth from being negatively impacted. If the bone is allowed to weaken over time, it can destabilize the rest of your smile, causing additional tooth loss.
How Does It Help After a Tooth Extraction?
Once a tooth is removed from its socket, your soft oral tissues and jawbone will need time to heal before having it replaced. Unfortunately, the longer it takes you to heal, the greater the risk for jawbone deterioration. Fortunately, with socket preservation, your dentist can insert bone grafting materials into the existing socket, which will allow the new and existing bone to fuse and create a stronger foundation for your future dental implants in Fayetteville.
Why Socket Preservation is Important When Receiving Dental Implants
By completing this procedure immediately following the removal of a tooth, it not only shortens the total timeline for receiving dental implants, but it also helps to offset having to pay for your entire dental implant procedure at one time.
While no two patients are the same, the timeframe for receiving these permanent prosthetics typically takes several months or even a year. When you consider the additional time it takes to have a tooth removed, allow it to heal, then undergo a bone graft only to spend several more months at home healing, it can become quite lengthy. Combining tooth extraction and socket preservation shortens the overall timeline and allows you to move forward with dental implants quicker.
With this additional step to strengthen your jawbone, you will enjoy a more successful and comfortable smile once your titanium posts are firmly in place. As a result, you’ll be able to eat, speak, and smile more confidently than ever before.
About the Author
Dr. Dave Lee is a trusted dentist in Fayetteville with more than 38 years of experience. Working alongside his daughter, Dr. Lauren Lee Polito, the two work together to ensure patients suffering from tooth loss have options to restore their smiles with ease. Offering dental implants, Dr. Lee and Dr. Polito will perform socket preservation, if necessary, to prevent further bone from deteriorating after extraction before referring patients to a periodontist for the surgical placement of each implant. If you are ready to take back your smile and pursue dental implants, contact us at (770) 637-4680.