There are times when a dental extraction is left as the last resort. Oftentimes, decay or infection has progressed so severely that other treatment options are no longer viable. A dental extraction is only done when it is necessary to protect your overall health and the health of your remaining teeth. With the exception of the extraction of your wisdom teeth, most extractions should be followed by a dental replacement. Preserving the area where the tooth once was is with extraction site preservation is the best way to ensure that a tooth can be safely replaced.
Strengthening the bone
The nerves of your teeth stimulate your jawbone. When a tooth and its roots are removed, the bone loses some of that stimulation. Without that stimulation, your body begins to believe that the bone is no longer necessary. Bone resorption begins to set in. Bone resorption is when your body starts to reclaim the minerals of the bone to use elsewhere in the body. It causes the jawbone to soften and lose shape over time. This can cause a weak foundation for the remaining teeth. It can also cause the site of the missing tooth to be too weak to take on a dental implant. Site preservation can keep bone resorption from happening.
What is site preservation?
To preserve the site where the extracted tooth once was, Dr. Carmona can fill in the area with bone grafting or with a bio-compatible substitute. This can prevent bone loss in the jaw. It can also provide a strong foundation for a dental replacement like a dental implant or a dental bridge. Having a strong foundation will not only help for the single tooth’s replacement, but it can also protect the remaining teeth in the area. Imagine a house sitting on quicksand. The quicksand is replaced with concrete and the whole neighborhood feels safer.
Site preservation is important after an extraction
We can help you with extraction site preservation and with your replacement options. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Ernesto Carmona, Jr. at Austin Prosthodontics, call 512-250-9444. We also proudly welcome patients from Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, and all surrounding Texas communities.
