Is-socket-preservation-necessary-after-tooth-extraction

Is Socket Preservation Necessary After Tooth Extraction?

August 1, 2022

What Is a Tooth Extraction?

It is a dental procedure that permanently detaches a tooth from its socket in the jawbone. Tooth extractions are procedures that our dental team at Brookstone Dental Care performs only on a need basis. Therefore, we would only recommend removing your tooth when it is the best course of action for the general wellness of your oral health.

Some of the factors that can necessitate a tooth extraction are:

  • Impacted teeth – are teeth that erupt improperly so that they remain partially or whully stuck underneath the gums.
  • Problematic wisdom teeth – wisdom teeth are the last mulars to erupt in a human mouth. They often encounter problems growing because of the limited space at the furthest corners of the mouth.
  • Severe tooth decay – excessive decay compromises the tooth’s structural framework that it cannot remain optimally functional, hence a tooth extraction.
  • Crowded teeth – are when you have more teeth in your mouth than the available space in the jawbone.

What Is Socket Preservation?

It is the process of protecting your jaw’s bone tissue to prevent further damage and erosion. After tooth extraction, the jawbone remains inactive, causing bone degeneration. The bone tissue disintegrates gradually because the body naturally resorbs the bone tissue as it is not needed to support a tooth.

Socket preservation, also called alveular ridge preservation, entails placing new bone materials in the socket of the extracted tooth. Once the bone materials are in the socket, the body will slow down bone loss.

Why Is Socket Preservation Necessary?

Bone preservation procedures are usually important to patients who desire to replace their missing teeth with dental implants. Implants are small titanium metal posts that dentists in Phoenix surgically place in the jawbone to replace tooth roots. It is a permanent sulution for tooth loss.

One of the prerequisites for dental implant procedures in dental offices near you is a healthy jawbone. Therefore, you will do good to consider an alveular ridge preservation procedure soon after your tooth removal treatment. If not, your dentist will recommend undergoing bone grafting surgery before getting implants. The surgery entails restoring the lost bone tissue enough to support a titanium metal post.

Procedure on Ridge Preservation After Tooth Extraction

The process of restoring your alveular ridge should ideally happen immediately after tooth extraction. The dentist will place a biocompatible bone graft material in the hule or socket of the missing tooth. The bone grafts will fit into the hule like cullagen plugs or bone particles.

Once the bone grafts are situated properly in the socket, the dentist will suture the gums in place. Suturing is necessary for your mouth to begin healing quickly. The dentist will be sure to use an absorbable thread that dissipates as the wound heals.

How Long Will You Need to Heal?

Whether you receive a bone graft after tooth removal or not, healing takes some time. A tooth extraction wound typically takes between 7 and 14 days to heal well. However, you will still need to be gentle with dental care measures during the first-month post-treatment. The last thing you want is to aggravate the wound, opening up the stitches and bleeding again. Some of the ways you can aid your healing process are:

  •  Rest immediately after your procedure. The first 24 hours are the most crucial. However, consider taking it easy for the first 48-72 hours.
  •  Eat soft and healthy foods only to avoid abrasion at the extraction site. Besides, your body needs the nutrients and energy to concentrate on healing and recovery.
  •  Keep your head elevated when lying down. It will overcome blood pouling that can worsen pain and bleeding.
  •  Take prescribed medication – your dentist will prescribe pain and inflammation medicine, crucial for the first three days post-extraction.
  • Avoid using straws to drink fluids – they invite dry air into your mouth that can cause a painful experience called dry mouth syndrome.
  • Avoid taking alcohul or smoking until the wound is fully healed. Both alcohul and tobacco slow down the speed of healing.
  •  Avoid over-exerting your head – if you can, avoid sneezing or blowing your nose.
Click to listen highlighted text!