BONE PRESERVATION
Socket Preservation
A short, in-the-same-visit procedure performed right after a tooth is removed, designed to protect bone volume and keep future restorative options open.
A short, in-the-same-visit procedure performed right after a tooth is removed, designed to protect bone volume and keep future restorative options open.
When a tooth has to be removed, whether to stop an advanced infection, address decay that has gone too far, or interrupt bone loss caused by gum disease, the jaw naturally begins to resorb at that site. Bone loss is rapid and noticeable in the first year.
Without treatment, that resorption can quickly make a future dental implant impractical, and it can complicate other restorative options like fixed bridges or removable dentures. Socket preservation is a straightforward procedure performed at the time of extraction to protect the site and preserve your options.
Because it is completed in the same visit as the extraction, socket preservation can dramatically reduce total treatment cost and shorten the overall timeline compared with rebuilding bone later.
A small step at the time of extraction can save meaningful bone, and simplify everything that comes next.
Lining the socket with graft material and covering it with a barrier membrane helps preserve the height and width of the ridge as the site heals.
Without preservation, bone can resorb to the point where a future dental implant is no longer feasible without more involved grafting. Preserving the site now protects your restorative options later.
Completing preservation in the same visit as the extraction often reduces overall treatment time and cost compared with rebuilding bone in a separate surgical stage.
Socket preservation is completed at the time of extraction, in a single visit.
The tooth is removed with as little disruption to surrounding tissue as possible, so that the socket walls remain intact and the site is ready for grafting.
The empty socket is filled with bone graft material chosen for the site. The graft acts as a scaffold for your body to build new bone into the space.
A biocompatible barrier membrane is placed over the graft to prevent soft tissue from filling the space and to give new bone the room it needs to form.
The site is closed over the graft and membrane with sutures. A temporary restoration is occasionally provided if aesthetics or function require it.
Both the graft and the membrane are gradually resorbed by your body as new bone and gum tissue form. It typically takes five to six months before the regenerated bone has enough mass and density to support a dental implant.
A well-preserved socket is the foundation for whatever comes next, an implant, a bridge, or a partial denture. Protecting bone at extraction is often the single most impactful step you can take for long-term restorative options.
Recovery is typically comfortable, with mild swelling and tenderness for a few days. Following the aftercare instructions from our team helps ensure the graft heals as planned.
We are honored you have chosen us for your periodontal care. At Coastal Periodontics, we believe every patient is unique, not just in dental needs but in values, past experiences, and treatment goals. Our team listens first, then designs a collaborative treatment plan around what matters to you. We pride ourselves on providing a calm, welcoming environment where every detail is handled with compassion. Our approach is grounded in a simple ideology: it is not about a procedure, it is about a long-term relationship. We stay active in continued education and in the community we serve.
Next Step
Talk with us about preserving the site at the same visit, it can change what is possible later.