When you’ve lost a tooth, it’s important that steps be taken to prevent the loss of bone in the socket. Tooth extraction leaves a hole in the jawbone. Without the tooth in place, it’s common for the jawbone to shrink due to further bone loss. The procedure for preventing this is known as a socket or alveolar ridge preservation. Socket preservation is achieved by placing bone material into the now-empty socket. Wyngate Dental of Bethesda provides socket preservation treatments to help prevent the occurrence of future problems caused by bone loss in the jaw.
Socket Preservation: What It Is And How It Helps Your Oral Health
Socket preservation is important to protecting your oral health after losing a dental extraction. It is essential for those considering receiving dental implants down the road. Dental implants rely on sufficient bone mass being left for the implant to be set into. Those who receive socket preservation treatments after tooth loss have a higher success rate with dental implants due to the increased amount of bone support available.
However, it’s equally essential for those seeking a dental bridge to replace missing teeth. When a dental bridge is put in place, a divot can appear underneath the bridge due to the bone loss occurring where the tooth was removed. Receiving socket preservation treatments helps prevent this bone loss and helps improve the appearance of the bridge. Further, the gap under the bridge can contribute to additional health problems by adding new areas for plaque and tartar to develop and food debris to become lodged.
Additional concerns that are addressed by preventing bone loss with socket preservation include:
- Dental misalignment due to lack of structural support
- Malformation of the facial features due to bone loss
The socket preservation treatment is fairly straightforward and typically occurs simultaneously with the initial dental extraction. Doing this immediately helps prevent the concern of dry socket, as the area where the blood clot would form is eliminated. The opening that results from the removal of the tooth is packed with one of several materials that are used to help stimulate the growth of new bone. Once this graft material is put into the socket, sutures or a collagen membrane are placed to keep it closed and help it heal.
Visit Our Office To Learn More About Socket Preservation
If you’re expecting to have a tooth extracted and want to preserve the health of your jawbone afterward, give Wyngate Dental of Bethesda a call. You can reach us at 301-530-8008 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Taylor Cole. During your appointment, you’ll undergo a full dental exam and consultation. As part of the consultation, Dr. Cole will discuss your treatment options and advise if socket preservation is appropriate for your concerns. You can also visit our office at 5648 Shields Drive, Bethesda, MD, to meet our staff and tour the office.
