Once tooth is removed, there is a hole that is left where the tooth used to be, and this is called socket. This socket tends to be quite sensitive initially. This is the reason why the dentist will often recommend that you undergo socket preservation as well when undergoing extraction. It is important to protect the socket.
Dry Socket
One of the dangers of tooth extraction and an unhealed tooth socket is what’s known as a dry socket. This painful condition develops when the healthy blood clot becomes loose or dislodged, exposing the sensitive nerve beneath. If left untreated, a dry socket can become infected and harm existing bone, tissues, and surrounding teeth. Socket preservation helps prevent this condition from happening to eliminate the chances of pain and infection after a tooth extraction.
Bone Preservation
Socket preservation also helps to preserve the health and structure of your natural bone. During the procedure, the bone graft material is packed directly into the empty socket. Filling this space helps prevent resorption of the bone. This can reduce the risk of remaining teeth shifting out of place and altering the bite as the bone will shrink at a much slower rate.
Prepare for Dental Implants
Another reason for socket preservation is to prepare the bone for a dental implant to be placed at a future date. To safely place a dental implant, the bone needs to have adequate density and volume. Preserving the bone at the time of a tooth extraction can better guarantee that the bone will still be strong and dense enough to not need bone grafting at the time of implant placement.
At Teeth Care Centre®, we use several methods to minimize bone loss after tooth extraction. Filling the socket with bone graft material is one of the most commonly adopted modes of treatment. Once the socket is filled with bone graft, it is then covered with gum and allowed to heal for a considerable period of time. Socket healing eliminates chances of shrinkage and collapse of the adjacent bone and gums. Moreover, the newly formed bone in the socket aids in implant placement, by eliminating the need for procedures like sinus lift, ridge split and nerve repositioning.
Our experienced dentist in ahmedabad encourage the need of socket preservation following each extraction, to make the process of tooth replacement as sound and hassle free as possible for you.