After an extraction, the socket where the tooth used to sit naturally shrinks. It is common to lose 3 to 4 mm of gum. To limit this loss and give a future restoration (implant, bridge or denture) the best possible start, it is better to fill the socket the same day.
Why fill the socket after an extraction?
Losing bone and gum causes a number of problems sooner or later:
- The neighbouring teeth come loose.
- Longer replacement teeth (on the implant, bridge or denture).
- Unstable dentures, if that is the solution chosen.
- Sensitivity to cold or sweet food on the neighbouring teeth.
How does socket grafting work?
The graft is done at the same time as the extraction, taking just a few extra minutes. The dentist places a sterile, resorbable material in the socket, sometimes covered with a membrane. Over a few months this material is gradually replaced by your own bone and your own gum.
The graft is painless and is done at the same time as the extraction: a single appointment is all it takes.
The long-term benefits
By preserving bone and gum volume right from the extraction, you make every future replacement option easier and limit both aesthetic and functional complications: stable neighbouring teeth, a more harmonious restoration and better-fitting dentures.
