What is a Socket?

A socket is the area of the jaw bone where the tooth is anchored. When advanced periodontal disease or injury has caused significant bone loss in the socket area, the tooth socket may need to be reconstructed.

What is Socket Grafting?

The bone which surrounds the tooth socket deteriorates very quickly once a tooth is removed. If a socket continues to be empty after tooth loss, the accelerated bone loss can impact adjacent teeth, and prevent placement of a dental implant later on. Thus, it is important for appearance and health to rebuild the socket at the time of tooth loss.

Socket grafting is a procedure which can rebuild or preserve the bone in the tooth socket, allowing future replacement by a dental implant or bridge restoration. At the time of your dental extraction, if you are unsure whether you will want a dental implant in the future, socket grafting may decrease the rate of bone shrinkage and may allow a dental implant to be placed later on without any other bone grafting procedure.

What is Involved in Socket Grafting?

At the time of tooth extraction, all remaining root particles will be removed to leave a clean empty socket. Bone grafting material will then be placed into the socket, which will build it into a firm foundation for reconstruction. There are several types of bone grafting materials available and we will choose the appropriate type to suit your needs.

There normally a healing time of several months for the grafted material to fully combine with your natural bone. Once the new bone is solidified, dental implants can be placed to restore full function. Socket grafting greatly improves the chances that the missing tooth site will allow the patient to have a dental implant.