When a tooth is removed, it is normal for the bone that once supported it to begin shrinking. This bone loss can lead to a sunken appearance in your smile, changes in how you chew or speak, and difficulty placing a dental implant or bridge later on. To prevent these problems, Dr. Jiries Mogannam, Dr. Vicente Chavez, Dr. Christopher Chow and Dr. William Verlinden offer a treatment called socket preservation. This procedure helps maintain the structure of your jawbone after a tooth is extracted and promotes a more predictable healing process.
How Socket Preservation Works
Socket preservation is a type of bone grafting performed immediately after a tooth is removed. The goal is to preserve the empty socket and prevent the surrounding bone from collapsing. After your tooth is extracted, our team will carefully clean the area and place a grafting material into the socket. This material is usually made from processed bone minerals that act as a scaffold, allowing your body to grow new bone over time. We then cover the site with a protective barrier and close it with stitches if needed.
The entire process can often be completed in the same visit as your tooth extraction, depending on your individual treatment plan. By preserving the socket, we create a stable foundation for future dental restorations, such as implants, bridges or dentures. This not only protects your appearance and oral function but also reduces the need for more complex bone grafting procedures in the future.
Why Socket Preservation Matters
Losing a tooth affects more than just your smile. Without the stimulation provided by the tooth root, your jawbone begins to resorb or shrink. This bone loss happens quickly within the first few months after extraction. Socket preservation helps slow or prevent this process, giving you more options for tooth replacement later on.
If you are planning to replace your tooth with a dental implant, socket preservation can make that process smoother and more successful. Even if you are not ready to decide on a replacement, keeping your bone structure intact gives you flexibility in the future.
Plan for a Healthy Recovery
We invite you to reach out to Sonoma County Oral Surgery & Dental at 707-566-7300 and schedule a consultation with our oral surgeons to learn more about socket preservation, especially if you are planning a tooth extraction. We will explain your options and determine whether socket preservation in Santa Rosa, California, is right for you. Our goal is to protect your oral health, preserve your smile and support a strong recovery.
