There are times in your life when a dental extraction may be necessary. With the exception of a third molar/wisdom tooth extraction, the extracted tooth will likely need to be replaced. While you may successfully avoid dental extractions by practicing vigilant oral hygiene and routine dental visits, but life happens and you may find it inevitable. Extraction site preservation can be done by your dentist or prosthodontist at the time of extraction to preserve the area to make it more stable to support a replacement tooth. Tooth loss can cause problems for the bone that once supported the tooth. Extraction site preservation can help to fortify that bone.
Preventing Bone Loss
Once a tooth is removed, your body may decide that the jawbone that supported that tooth is now useless. In a process called bone resorption, your body stops sending minerals to the bone, and then begins taking minerals away. This demineralization can lead to a loss of bone density in the jawbone. This weakening of the jawbone can cause the remaining teeth to shift and move out of place. Your remaining teeth can even become endangered of falling out if your jaw becomes too weak to support them. Extraction site preservation is designed to strengthen and fortify the jawbone. Extraction site preservation normally involves bone grafting, where bone material is grafted onto the extraction site. The bone material used for grafting comes from somewhere else in your mouth, donor bone, or synthetic material. Your jawbone will fuse to the bone graft fortifying the area.
Strengthen to Support an Implant
A dental implant is a biocompatible titanium post that is strategically placed into your jaw to support a crown or other prosthetic replacement. Extraction site preservation fortifies the jawbone to be strong enough to support the dental implant. Both the site preservation and implant can provide enough stimulation to the bone to prevent the risk of bone resorption.
Extraction site preservation helps with tooth replacement
Ask about extraction site preservation when you get a dental extraction. To schedule a consultation with Austin Prosthodontics in Austin, TX, call 512-250-9444. We also proudly welcome patients from Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, and all surrounding Texas communities.
