Socket (RiDGE) Preservation Procedure

Preserving Your Jaw Bone after Extraction

After a tooth is extracted, the surrounding bone will start to recede. Within one year of extracting a tooth, the bone may lose as much as 50% of its width. This may very well prevent placement of an implant.

If you are planning to have an implant placed, a socket preservation bone graft (ridge preservation bone graft) may be recommended at the time of tooth removal. The purpose of this procedure is to preserve the bone height and width, thereby minimizing the amount of bone deterioration prior to implant placement. In this procedure, a bone graft material is placed into the tooth extraction socket immediately after a tooth is removed. The graft is then covered with a dissolvable collagen material to protect and hold the bone graft within the socket. The gum tissue will heal over the bone graft over 3-4 weeks. After 3-4 months of bone graft healing, the site is then ready for an implant to be placed.

Each person’s situation is unique. At your consultation appointment your doctor will advise you whether a socket preservation bone graft is recommended.