Ridge Preservation

periodontics • rocky hill, nj • princeton, nj

Careful management of extraction sockets after tooth extraction prevents unsightly bone loss, maintains intact the boney ridge of the jaw and provides a better cosmetic outcome for tooth replacement.

Despite the best efforts and techniques we have to treat many dental problems, some teeth may be hopeless and not be able to be saved. The bone surrounding one or more teeth may be damaged by an infection, by split or cracked roots, or by extensive decay extending under the gum and bone line. Tooth extraction frequently results in a localized jaw bone deformity. This may cause major cosmetic and restorative dental problems as well as potentially limiting or even precluding future restoration of the area with implants.

Socket preservation is a procedure used to prevent bone and gums deformities from occurring after an extraction. The tooth is gently removed and the socket is filled with bone or a bone substitute and then covered with a biocompatible material. This creates a barrier that allows your body to use its natural ability to heal and regenerate lost bone and tissue.

Socket preservation is a technique that can greatly improve your smile while also ensuring the ability to place a properly fitting bridge or increase the success of implant tooth replacement procedures.

Ridge Augmentation

If one or more teeth have been missing for a number of years concavities in the jawbone may be present. Such depressions in the jaw bone are both unsightly and present problems for correction either by using a bridge or implants.

Ridge augmentation is used to correct anatomic deficiencies where natural teeth are missing. This procedure fills depressions that are unnatural looking and may make you look older than you are. If bone loss is not addressed after an extraction the area often caves in, affecting your ability to properly clean under a bridge. The problems of bone loss also affect your dentist’s ability to restore the area to a natural state so that teeth are in the proper position and do not look too long. In addition, ridge augmentation is often used prior to or in conjunction with implant placement to ensure the best orientation of the implant for both aesthetic and functional results.

Return to Top