Socket Preservation in Pembroke, ON

Why Patients Choose Parkview Dental

People keep coming back — some for almost 40 years — because they say this feels different.

They tell us the team is genuinely caring, warm, and down-to-earth. They love that everyone from the front desk to the chair actually listens and takes the time to explain things.

Patients say they finally found a dental office where they’re treated like family, not just another appointment.

What Is Socket Preservation?

Socket preservation, also called alveolar ridge preservation, is a dental procedure performed immediately following tooth extraction to prevent bone loss in the empty socket. 

After removing a tooth, the dentist fills the socket with bone grafting material such as mineralized bone allograft, xenograft, or synthetic bone substitute. A barrier membrane is then placed over the graft material, and the gum tissue is sutured closed. This technique maintains the height and width of the alveolar ridge by providing a scaffold for new bone formation, preventing the bone density loss that typically occurs in the first six months after extraction. 

Socket preservation creates an optimal foundation for future dental implant placement or other restorative procedures.

Benefits of Socket Preservation

Protecting your bone immediately after extraction provides advantages that extend far beyond the extraction site:

• Prevents dramatic bone loss and ridge collapse: Without preservation, extraction sites lose 40-60% of their width within six months, making future implant placement difficult or impossible without extensive bone grafting later
• Maintains facial structure and appearance: Preserving bone volume prevents the sunken, aged appearance that develops when the jawbone shrinks, particularly noticeable in front tooth areas where bone loss affects your smile line
• Creates ideal foundation for dental implants: Adequate bone height and width are essential for successful implant placement; socket preservation eliminates the need for more complex and expensive bone reconstruction procedures down the road
• Reduces treatment time and complexity: Grafting at extraction time is simpler and heals faster than returning months later for ridge augmentation surgery before implants, getting you to your final restoration sooner
• Protects adjacent teeth from shifting: Maintained bone and ridge contours help neighboring teeth stay in proper position rather than tilting into the empty space and creating bite problems or orthodontic issues
• Keeps bridge and denture options viable: Even if you choose not to get an implant, preserved bone provides better support for traditional bridges or prevents dentures from becoming loose and uncomfortable over time
• Cost-effective preventive approach: Spending on socket preservation now costs significantly less than major bone grafting procedures required later if you allow extensive bone loss to occur before deciding on implant treatment
• Improves gum tissue health and appearance: Proper socket healing with grafting maintains healthy gum architecture rather than leaving indentations or uneven tissue that compromises aesthetics in your smile zone

Who Is a Good Candidate for Socket Preservation?

Most patients requiring tooth extraction benefit from socket preservation, though certain situations make it especially valuable:

• Anyone planning future dental implant placement in the extraction site, even if implant surgery won’t happen for several months or years
• Patients losing front teeth, where bone loss would be highly visible and affect their smile aesthetics, gum line appearance, and facial support
• Those who are extracting teeth with significant bone loss already present from periodontal disease, infection, or trauma, which makes the remaining bone especially vulnerable to further resorption
• People who want to preserve all restoration options rather than limiting future choices by allowing preventable bone deterioration during the healing period
• Patients with thin bone walls surrounding the tooth being removed, which are particularly prone to rapid collapse without grafting support
• Non-smokers or those willing to quit temporarily – smoking significantly impairs bone graft healing and integration, reducing preservation success rates by 30-40%
• Individuals with good overall health and well-controlled medical conditions, like diabetes, that could otherwise interfere with bone healing and graft incorporation

The Socket Preservation Process – Step by Step

Understanding the complete procedure helps you know what to expect during and after your extraction appointment:

1. Pre-Extraction Consultation and Planning

Dr. Munro examines the tooth requiring extraction with X-rays and iTero scanning to assess bone quality, infection presence, and socket dimensions. You’ll discuss your tooth replacement timeline, preferred graft materials, sedation options, and overall treatment goals.

2. Anesthesia and Tooth Removal

Local anesthesia and/or your chosen dental sedation thoroughly numbs the area. Dr. Munro carefully extracts the tooth using gentle techniques that minimize trauma to the surrounding bone walls and gum tissue, preserving as much natural structure as possible.

3. Socket Cleaning and Preparation

Once the tooth is removed, Dr. Munro thoroughly cleans the empty socket, removing any infected tissue, debris, or diseased bone. He examines the socket walls to identify any defects or perforations that need special attention during grafting.

4. Bone Graft Material Placement

Your selected bone grafting material is carefully packed into the empty socket, filling it completely from the base up to the level of the surrounding bone. The graft particles are condensed gently to eliminate voids while avoiding excessive pressure.

5. Membrane Barrier Application

A collagen membrane or other barrier material is trimmed to size and positioned over the graft-filled socket. This membrane prevents your gum tissue from growing down into the socket too quickly, giving the bone graft time to integrate properly.

6. Tissue Closure and Protection

Dr. Munro positions your gum tissue over the grafted socket and places sutures to hold everything securely. The closure technique depends on socket size and location – some sites achieve complete coverage while others intentionally leave the graft partially exposed.

7. Healing Period Monitoring

Your socket heals over three to six months as the graft material is gradually replaced by your natural bone. Follow-up appointments let Dr. Munro track healing progress, remove sutures, and determine the optimal timing for implant placement or other restoration.

8. Implant Placement or Final Restoration

Once healing completes, Dr. Munro uses imaging to confirm adequate bone volume has been maintained. You can proceed with dental implant surgery with confidence, or move forward with bridge or denture fabrication knowing your ridge provides stable support.

Caring for Your Socket Preservation Site

Proper aftercare significantly impacts how well your graft integrates and how much bone volume you ultimately preserve:

• Avoid disturbing the extraction site: Don’t rinse vigorously, spit forcefully, use straws, or touch the area with your tongue or fingers for the first 48 hours while the blood clot and graft material stabilize
• Follow all dietary restrictions carefully: Stick to soft, cool foods for the first week and chew on the opposite side of your mouth to prevent graft material displacement or membrane damage
• Take prescribed medications as directed: Antibiotics prevent infection while the site heals, pain medications keep you comfortable, and anti-inflammatory drugs reduce swelling that can compromise graft integration
• Apply ice packs during the first 24 hours: Twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off helps minimize swelling and discomfort in the hours immediately following your extraction and grafting procedure
• Keep your mouth clean without brushing the site: Gently rinse with warm salt water starting 24 hours after surgery, but avoid brushing directly over the grafted socket until Dr. Munro gives approval
• Watch for warning signs of complications: Contact Parkview Dental immediately if you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding, fever, or foul odor from the site, as these may indicate infection or graft failure
• Quit smoking completely during healing: Tobacco use during the critical first two weeks dramatically increases your risk of graft failure, infection, and inadequate bone formation

Cost & Financing for Socket Preservation

Socket preservation typically adds $300 to $800 to your tooth extraction cost, with total fees depending on the materials used and the complexity of your case. While this represents an additional expense at the time of extraction, it’s far more economical than the $1,500 to $3,000 ridge augmentation procedures often required later if you skip preservation and allow extensive bone loss.

Several factors influence your socket preservation investment:

• Type and amount of bone graft material needed – synthetic grafts generally cost less than donor tissue, and larger sockets requiring more material increase expenses
• Membrane type and size – collagen membranes that dissolve naturally cost less than non-resorbable barriers requiring removal, though both effectively protect the graft
• Extraction complexity – simple extractions combined with preservation cost less than surgical extractions requiring bone removal or tooth sectioning before grafting
• Sedation choices – adding nitrous oxide or oral sedation for comfort increases your total procedure cost compared to local anesthesia alone

Parkview Dental works with most dental insurance providers, and many plans cover 50-80% of medically necessary socket preservation when you’re planning implant replacement. We also offer CareCredit financing to make your treatment affordable within your budget.

Considerations & Alternatives

Socket preservation significantly improves your bone volume compared to extraction alone, but it doesn’t completely prevent all bone remodeling. Research shows preserved sockets still experience bone loss during healing, though this is far better than the loss without grafting. The procedure works best when performed immediately at extraction. Waiting even a few days reduces effectiveness as bone resorption begins instantly.

Success depends heavily on maintaining the blood clot and graft material in the socket. Any disruption during the first week, whether from smoking, aggressive rinsing, or eating hard foods, can compromise results. You must follow all post-operative instructions precisely and attend follow-up appointments so Dr. Munro can monitor healing. Some graft material may work its way out of the socket during healing, which is normal, but excessive material loss indicates problems requiring attention.

Possible Side Effects

• Graft material exposure if sutures fail or gum tissue doesn’t remain sealed over the socket, potentially allowing bacterial contamination, though many cases still heal successfully with careful monitoring
• Post-operative swelling and bruising lasting three to five days, particularly common with extractions involving infection or larger back teeth requiring more extensive grafting
• Small particles of graft material occasionally work through the gums during healing, appearing as white granules that can be gently rinsed away without compromising overall preservation results
• Temporary altered sensation in nearby teeth or lip if the extraction and grafting procedure causes minor inflammation near nerve pathways, usually resolving within several weeks