After having teeth extracted, socket preservation is the vital next step to taking care of your oral health. In your mouth there is a bone called the alveolar ridge. It surrounds your teeth and exists solely to support them. After a tooth is removed, the alveolar ridge surrounding the tooth begins to degenerate. This can lead to the loss of the surrounding teeth, jawbone and soft tissues. In order to avoid any kind of bone, tooth, or tissue loss, Dr. Jose Lopez will use one of several procedures, depending on what is best for you, to perform the necessary socket preservation.
Among the several choices of how you can replace the newly extracted teeth are bridges, partial or full dentures, and Dr. Lopez’s dental implants in Boulder, CO. During your consultation, Dr. Lopez will go through each option with you, answer all of your questions, and help you decide what you need to achieve the results you deserve.
It is very important that bone replacement material be added to the extraction socket. There are several different types of bone grafting materials and Dr. Jose Lopez will discuss which socket preservation procedure right for you. After the tooth is extracted, Dr. Lopez will pack the socket with a bone-like material and cover it with a small plug or a suture. This material will support the tissues surrounding the socket and can later be replaced by the new alveolar bone. This will allow dental implants to be placed at a later date if you choose to do so.
In some cases, it is possible to extract the tooth and place a dental implant at the same time. If you would like to explore this option, please call Dr. Lopez’s office to schedule a consultation prior to the extraction.