The goal of periodontal therapy is to save teeth and replace missing teeth. Sometimes during treatment teeth are identified which require removal or extraction. The extraction of teeth may be necessary because of infection, bone loss, tooth fracture or pain as well as other reasons.
The bone that holds the tooth in place is called the socket. It is often damaged by disease and or infection resulting in a jaw deformity when the tooth is extracted. A jaw deformity can create a major problem when replacing a missing tooth. Jaw deformities from extraction can usually be prevented and repaired by a procedure called socket preservation.
Several techniques can be utilized to preserve the bone after extraction and minimize bone loss adjacent to the socket. In one technique, the tooth is removed and the socket is filled with bone powder or bone substitute powder. The socket is then covered with a biocompatible barrier to encourage your body to repair itself by regenerating lost bone and tissue.
The gum is closed and healing is allowed to occur. The bone is usually allowed to mature from a few months to as long as twelve months before implant or restorative treatment is completed.