Socket Preservation (Bone Grafting)

Socket preservation or alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is a procedure to reduce bone loss after tooth extraction to preserve the dental alveolus (tooth socket). A bone grafting material or scaffold is placed in the socket of an extracted tooth at the time of extraction. The socket is then directly covered with a non-resorbable or resorbable membrane and sutured.

After extraction, jaw bone has to be preserved to keep the socket in its original shape. Without it, the bone quickly resorbs resulting in 30-60% loss in bone volume in the six months after dental extraction. The jaw bone will never revert to its original shape once bone is lost and tissue contour has changes.

The human body reduces the amount of bone that is not sufficiently used with a daily stress; without the stain stimulus, the jaw bone behaves (with or without socket preservation) as if the space occupied by the tooth and periodontal ligament was empty.

Material Types

  • Autograft – Bone harvested from patient’s own body.
  • Xenograft – Bone grafts or collagen from bovine or porcine origin.
  • Allograft – Block bone graft from cadaver.
  • Alloplast – Synthetic biomaterials such as fibrin scaffolds, PLGA, or synthetic biodegradable polymer, hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, bioglass – ceramics etc.

Bone Grafting or Ridge Augmentation

It differs from ridge augmentation; in socket preservation, the graft or scaffold is placed inside the tooth socket immediately after extraction, whereas the ridge augmentation grafting procedure is done to bring back the loss bone after the bone has resporbed and there is insufficient ridge height or width for further treatment procedure.

Benefits

Socket preservation procedure prevents immediate bone resorption after extraction thus keeping the contour and integrity of the socket with successful and natural looking appearance for tooth restoration procedures. All dental prosthesis requires good jaw bone support for it to be successful in the long run. Without socket preservation, residual bones could lose volume resulting in loss of facial vertical and horizontal dimension and changes in facial tissues aesthetics. Contact us for an appointment.