Tooth extraction can happen for a variety of reasons including damage, decay, and disease. After extraction, we all want our smile back. And dental implants and bridge work requires that gums and jaws be strong and able to support new teeth. However, this is often not the case after tooth extraction. The problem is that tooth removal can cause gums and the jawbone in the affected area to naturally recede.

The key to a wider, healthier smile may reside in socket preservation. This procedure’s name gives you an idea of what’s involved, but socket preservation also involves advanced oral surgery that helps to restore gum and jaw health after extraction.

Your dentist will likely need to do bone grafting at the same he or she does the tooth extraction. Because your jaw needs strength to withstand future implant or denture work, keeping it healthy and strong is essential. Your gums and jawbone need to be able to keep these types of implants and fixtures in place. Socket Preservation involves the dentist depositing calcium and plasma rich material into the socket itself, often including a tiny piece of your bone from elsewhere and placing it into the socket area. Your dentist may also fill the socket area with plasma to aid in the healing process. The socket and gum area are then closed and covered following the procedure to allow for cell regeneration and growth.

Why Socket Preservation Is a Healthy Option

Because the site has been treated at the time as the extraction, it will help preserve the jawbone strength in that area. It will take time to heal, but it will help prepare your jawbone for dental implants or a bridge depending on your needs. If your dentist has recommended tooth extraction as a needed course of action, ask them if socket preservation is available to you as it will help increase the odds that any future dental implantation will yield its best results.