How we stay ahead of and correct complications from tooth loss with expert socket preservation techniques
Bone grafting is an advanced treatment available at your specialty center in Mount Prospect, Bartlett, Elk Grove Village, and Chicago, Illinois, Associates for Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery. Not all grafting procedures and techniques are the same. For instance, we may recommend corrective techniques to address defects in tooth sockets that result from tooth loss or extractions. These treatments broadly fall under the category of “socket preservation.”
Why is it essential to preserve the socket?
There are many reasons a tooth may need to be extracted or removed. Everything from bone loss due to progressive disease to traumatic fractures can result in irreparable damage to the affected teeth. Often, the bone that holds the teeth in place (the sockets) is damaged due to disease or infections. This results in jaw-related deformities after the tooth is removed. Additionally, even the loss of a single tooth can result in the surrounding, supportive bone and the soft tissues (gums) shrinking or resorbing. This process can quickly lead to a collapsed or sunken appearance in the lips, cheeks, and lower face. In addition to presenting aesthetic concerns, this process can lead to challenges in everyday function, from problems with chewing food to speaking clearly and properly.
How does this affect my options for tooth replacement?
Such jaw defects can result in many complications associated with restoring the teeth with bridges, implants, or dentures. In fact, it can limit your options to replace teeth. Implants, for instance, require dense, strong bone as a good foundation to support the prosthetic teeth, be it a crown, bridge, or denture. Socket preservation techniques may be the only way to replace your teeth and finally fill those gaps in your smile.
What does socket preservation entail?
We can both prevent and repair jaw deformities related to tooth removal with socket preservation. This approach considerably enhances the appearance of your smile and minimizes the risks of complications associated with dental implant placement. The success of your new teeth is supported. Now, the specific techniques that are recommended vary. For instance, we may preserve the bone and minimize resorption post-extraction by filling the socket with bone or a bone substitute. As soon as the tooth is extracted, this replacement bone is applied and then covered with the gums, membrane, or tissue.
Your body’s natural healing capacity can then be unlocked to repair the socket or to avoid any potential problems related to the loss of the tooth. Courtesy of this method, the socket heals, and the shrinkage or collapse of the surrounding gums and facial tissues are avoided. Additionally, the newly formed bone in the socket can provide just the strong foundation your new implant-retained teeth need for lasting support and health.
Why choose the Associates for Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery?
We take a multi-disciplinary approach. We encourage you to ask your dentist if socket preservation will be necessary after a damaged tooth is extracted. It may be an essential part of rebuilding your smile, especially if you need to replace the visible front teeth. To experience firsthand the benefits of partnering with our specialty center, schedule a consultation at our Mount Prospect, IL office. Our team can be reached at (847) 255-7080. If our offices in Bartlett, Elk Grove Village, and Chicago are more convenient for you, please contact (630) 289-5002, (847) 593-0535, or (773) 736-3300, respectively.
