socket & ridge preservation oral surgery

The strength of your jaw is inherently tied to the positioning of your teeth.

As your teeth begin to wear and require removal, the health of your jawbone is placed at risk. As such, it’s crucial that you make an effort to preserve your jawbone’s structural integrity if you want to maintain its appearance and strength. The Elizabeth oral surgeons for socket and ridge preservation at Elizabeth Oral Surgery Group care about the health of your teeth and jawbone.

One of the best ways to maintain your jawbone in the wake of tooth removal is to invest in socket and ridge preservation. Socket and ridge preservation prevents your jawbone from shrinking while also making it easier for you to invest in dental implants later down the line. You can discuss the benefits with an Elizabeth oral surgeon for socket and ridge repair. 

Your Teeth and the Integrity of Your Jaw

There can come a point where it is no longer safe for you to maintain certain teeth in your mouth. If you have to have several teeth removed, those removals can leave behind a considerable amount of space in your mouth. Your teeth don’t only allow you to eat on a daily basis, but they also maintain your gum line and jaw integrity.

If you do not invest in socket and ridge preservation in the wake of tooth removals, your jawbone will no longer have the structure and needs to remain firm. In turn, the jawbone can begin to shrink or even dissolve to the point where its strength may be compromised.

This decay of the jawbone presents several threats to your overall health. The bone itself may be difficult to replace without investing in a prosthetic. You may struggle to eat while waiting for treatment or suffer undue pain. In either case, it’s best to discuss the benefits of socket and ridge preservation long before these symptoms of jaw decay can set in. 

Elizabeth Oral Surgeons For Socket and Ridge Preservation Take Great Care

It is often easiest for an oral surgeon to conduct a socket and ridge preservation at the same time as a tooth removal. If you choose to benefit from these treatments simultaneously, you won’t have to worry about any interim decay.

To preserve the ridge of your jaw, a medical professional will first remove the troublesome tooth. Afterward, parties will insert a prosthetic or bone graft into the space left behind by the removed tooth. It is up to you and the attending oral surgeon to determine what this craft is made out of.

At the end of the day, however, the graft is meant to encourage your jaw to grow the bone material needed to stabilize the new emptiness in your mouth. It usually takes between four to six months for the jawline to stabilize enough for you to invest in dental implants.

Different Jaw Grafts Used by Elizabeth Oral Surgeons For Socket and Ridge Preservation

As mentioned, oral surgeons use a bone graft to ensure that the strength of your jawbone remains intact. You can work with your oral surgeon to determine what material you want to use to facilitate jawbone growth. The materials most often used in these treatments include the following:

• Autogenous grafts
• Xenografts
• Allografts
• Alloplast grafts

Alloplast grafts are the only grafts that use synthetic material to facilitate the growth of your jaw. If you want to invest in an autogenous craft, you can discuss where to take the bone from and what the procedure of removing that bone may look like with an oral surgeon and general practitioner. 

What to Expect After a Socket and Ridge Preservation Treatment

A socket and ridge preservation treatment conducted at the same time as a tooth removal is minimally invasive and causes minimal discomfort. If you benefit from general anesthesia or sedation at the time your tooth removal occurs, you may experience no pain at all.

You should, however, prepare to endure some soreness and swelling in the days following your treatment. While it takes the jaw itself up to six months to fully stabilize, the symptoms related to your treatment should lessen within a few days of your treatment. If these symptoms—ranging from pain to swelling—do not go away, it’s important that you consult an oral surgeon as soon as possible. 

Unanticipated Side Effects of Socket and Ridge Preservation

Should a medical professional operate on your lower jaw at the time of your treatment, there is a chance the procedure may disturb the nerves facilitating feeling to your jawbone and lower lip. If, in the wake of your surgery, you notice numbness or unusual sensations from your lower lip, let a medical professional know. 

There is a chance you may benefit from nerve repositioning as well as socket and ridge preservation after the removal of damaged teeth. 

You can discuss the need for this procedure or any others that may pair with your initial treatment during a consultation with an oral surgeon. Our team of Elizabeth oral surgeons for socket and ridge preservation will take every step to ensure you have options for comfort and health available to you.

Discuss Your Socket and Ridge Preservation With a Professional Today

In the wake of several teeth removals, it’s important to take what steps you can to preserve the strength of your jawbone. Socket and Ridge preservation allows oral surgeons to prevent your jawbone from shrinking. This makes it easier for you to invest in dental implants in the long run.

If you have questions about the need for socket and ridge preservation, you can meet with an oral surgeon for a consultation. Our team of Elizabeth oral surgeons for socket and ridge preservation is available to discuss your needs at (908) 585-4990. You can also learn more about our available services by contacting us through our website.