Tooth Socket Graft
Whittier, CA
When faced with tooth damage, it is essential that you seek dental treatment right away. In many cases, damaged teeth can be restored using treatments such as a filling or a crown. However, when a tooth is faced with significant damage, it may not be possible to save it. Trying to do so can put your oral health at risk. In the case of severe damage, tooth extraction may be the best solution. At Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc., we can help to preserve the integrity of the jawbone following an extraction, preparing the bone for a dental implant, with a tooth socket graft.
Do I Need a Tooth Extraction?
Your teeth perform multiple integral functions. In addition to biting and chewing, the teeth help you to speak properly and provide you with a gorgeous, confident smile. The teeth also aid in keeping your jawbone strong and healthy. For these reasons, the preferred solution is to save teeth affected by damage or decay. While possible in many situations, this is not always the case. When the teeth have been affected by significant damage, trying to save them can put your oral health at risk for further complications. There are a few different situations in which a tooth extraction is necessary.
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A crack below the gum line. This may be a crack that starts in the crown and travels below the gums, or the damage may be completely below the gums. A crown cannot protect teeth with this type of damage.
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Severe tooth decay. In the event of significant decay, a filling may compromise the integrity of the tooth, but the tooth may be too weak to support a crown.
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Advanced gum disease.
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An infection that cannot be treated with a root canal.
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A tooth that has experienced root canal failure. |
Extractions and Your Jawbone
Your teeth play an integral role in the health of your jawbone. The teeth provide stimulation for the jaw, triggering the body to send essential nutrients. After tooth loss, including following extraction, the jawbone loses some of its stimulation. The lack of stimulation leads to fewer nutrients being sent to the jaw. This results in the loss of bone mass and your jaw begin to weaken. Implants rely on the integrity of your jawbone. The bone fuses to the posts, stabilizing them in them in the jaw. If you lose too much bone mass, the jaw cannot properly fuse to the posts, which can result in loose implants and unstable restorations.
What is a Tooth Socket Graft?
A tooth socket graft is a surgical procedure that is often performed immediately following the extraction of a tooth. When a tooth is extracted, an empty socket is left behind. A tooth socket graft is performed to fill in that empty space. It aids in preventing the bone from collapsing into the empty socket, preventing your adjacent teeth from shifting out of place. There are a few types of grafts that can be used in this procedure. We may harvest the bone from your own body, or the bone may be taken from a donor. Before extracting your tooth, we will perform a thorough exam to determine the best type of graft to use based on your specific situation.
The Benefits of a Tooth Socket Graft
A tooth socket graft provides several significant benefits.
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The graft fills in the empty socket which helps to maintain the integrity of your jawbone. This prevents the bone from changing shape as well as preserves the shape of your face.
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The procedure helps to preserve more of your natural bone mass. This prevents the need for a more invasive bone graft later.
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A tooth socket graft makes placing a dental implant easier following tooth extraction. |
A tooth socket graft allows us to help preserve the integrity of your jawbone, making it possible to place a dental implant as a replacement option. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Simon K. Choyee, DDS, Inc. at (562) 947-4781 today. |
