Losing a tooth can diminish your smile’s appeal, but it can also cause certain changes that go beyond aesthetics. If you lost a natural tooth or had an extraction, the bone in that region begins to deteriorate. To prevent bone resorption after tooth loss, our dentists perform socket preservation in Murphy, Wylie, Heath and Lucas TX. Our highly skilled team at Citrus Smiles, led by  Dr. Aurora, ensures that the extraction socket remains viable for replacement with a denture or dental implant.
What Is The Significance of Socket Preservation
Our teeth are surrounded by alveolar bone that holds them securely in place and facilitates proper functioning. When you lose a natural tooth, the bone in that area begins to resorb and flattens over time. It is more pronounced if you have lost multiple teeth.
Bone loss after extraction can become a serious concern if you are considering replacement with dentures or dental implants since these restorations rely on the support of the jawbone.
For this reason, our dental professionals use socket preservation to maintain the bone in that area. This technique involves placing a bone graft within the extraction socket. It preserves the alveolar bone in that region and prevents resorption, keeping it viable for tooth replacement. This procedure can also help prevent ‘dry socket,’ a rare but painful complication of tooth extraction.
What Does Socket Preservation Entail
The process of socket preservation is typically completed in two phases. In the first phase, we will carefully extract your tooth, preserving as much of your surrounding bone tissue as possible. The second phase may be done immediately after tooth extraction or during the next visit.
Our dentist will clean and disinfect the socket to minimize the risk of infection. We will then place a bone graft at the extraction site. It can be derived from natural sources, or a synthetic material can be used.
After placing the bone graft, we will insert an absorbable plug or close the socket with sutures. The graft material merges with the surrounding bone and prevents resorption. During the next visit, our dentists will discuss the best tooth replacement options for restoring your smile.
Post-Extraction Care Guidelines for Socket Preservation
It is normal to experience minor pain or soreness at the extraction site after this treatment. These symptoms resolve within one to two days. If the discomfort affects your routine, you can take pain medication to ease this duration.
Our dental team will provide complete care guidelines after treatment. While the socket is healing, we recommend eating a soft diet for a few days. Avoid hard, spicy, or crunchy foods and hot beverages that may cause irritation at the treatment site. It is also crucial to avoid smoking to achieve proper healing of the extraction socket.