Preserve Bone Health After Tooth Removal in Glendale, AZ
Dr. Gary K. Lines and Dr. Donald R. Hoaglin offer socket preservation in Glendale, Arizona, and throughout the Valley as part of your tooth extraction procedure at Arizona Center for Oral Surgery. This treatment helps maintain the health of the extraction site and makes future dental restorations, such as implants or bridges, easier to place. It often includes using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to support and enhance healing naturally. To schedule your visit with our oral surgeon, call 623-931-9197, and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.
If you’re preparing for a tooth extraction, our oral surgeon will likely recommend socket preservation to help prevent post-extraction bone loss. Once a tooth is removed, the alveolar ridge bone—which previously supported the tooth root—can begin to break down. A socket preservation bone graft is used to reinforce this area and maintain the ridge’s structure, promoting healthy healing and ensuring the site can later accommodate a dental implant or fixed bridge.
Socket preservation involves two key steps. First, during the extraction, our oral surgeon will use precise techniques to conserve as much of your natural bone as possible. Next, bone graft material is added to the socket to prevent its collapse. After cleaning the area thoroughly, we place specially prepared human-grade bone grafting material into the socket, followed by a small absorbable plug or suture to seal and protect the site. In many cases, this preservation procedure can be completed during the same visit as your tooth extraction.
To determine whether socket preservation is appropriate for your treatment plan, speak with our oral surgeon during your consultation. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Arizona Center for Oral Surgery today. We look forward to helping you maintain a strong, healthy foundation for your future smile.
Frequently Asked Questions — Socket Preservation in Glendale, AZ
1. What is socket preservation, and why might I need it?
After a tooth is extracted, the jaw socket (the hole left behind) naturally begins to shrink and lose bone and tissue volume. Socket preservation is a procedure where the socket is filled with bone-graft material (or bone substitute) and sometimes covered with a membrane or gum tissue to help maintain the bone and gum shape. It’s often done when future dental implants or prosthetics are planned, so you’ll have better bone support and fewer surprises.
2. Does socket preservation guarantee I can get an implant later?
While socket preservation greatly improves your chances of having enough bone for an implant and helps maintain the shape of your jaw and gum, it doesn’t guarantee implant placement by itself. Some factors—like how healthy your gums and bone are, your healing, general health, and whether you follow post-op instructions—still play a big role. At Arizona Center for Oral Surgery, during your consultation, we’ll evaluate your individual bone condition and discuss whether socket preservation is the right step for your upcoming treatment.
3. What happens during the socket preservation procedure and how long is the healing?
The process typically goes like this: after the tooth is removed (or sometimes at the same time), the socket is cleaned out, then graft material (bone or bone substitute) is placed into the socket, and sometimes a membrane or gum tissue coverage is added. Then you heal over time. Healing varies depending on the size of the graft, the location, and your personal health. Some sites may heal sufficiently in 3-4 months, while larger or more complex areas may require 6 months or more before an implant or final prosthetic is placed.
4. What are the benefits of socket preservation for my smile and jaw?
The main benefits include:
- Preserving bone volume and preventing collapse or shrinkage of the socket and surrounding bone/gum.
- Providing a better foundation for future implants or prostheses, which leads to more predictable outcomes.
- Helping maintain facial contours and avoiding some of the aesthetic changes that come with bone loss (like sunken cheeks or changes in lip support).
5. Are there special after-care instructions, and what risks should I know about?
Yes — after socket preservation, your surgeon at Arizona Center for Oral Surgery will give you care instructions which may include: avoiding disturbing the site (no poking or probing), eating soft foods, maintaining gentle oral hygiene around the area, avoiding smoking, and attending follow-up visits. While generally safe, as with any surgical procedure, there are risks such as infection, graft material failure, slower healing if you smoke or have uncontrolled health conditions, and less predictable bone outcome if you don’t follow instructions.