Ridge Preservation

When you lose a tooth, either because of dental decay or other dental problems, the alveolar ridge and socket under the tooth are left unprotected. Without a tooth to support, the alveolar ridge and bone structure under the empty socket start degenerating. Ridge preservation is a surgical procedure used to protect the empty socket and prevent bone loss from the alveolar ridge.

Ridge preservation goes by many names, including ridge augmentation, socket preservation, alveolar ridge preservation, and bone augmentation surgery. All of these names hint at the different purposes of the same procedure. During the ridge preservation and augmentation procedure, the dentist plants bone grafting material into the empty socket of the missing tooth. This simultaneously protects the empty socket and preserves the alveolar ridge, preventing bone loss.

The bone augmentation surgery is done immediately after tooth extraction to prevent bone loss. After examining the empty socket, the dentist will discuss the possible bone grafting materials — another part of your body, an organ donor, an animal, or synthetic bone grafting materials. During the ridge augmentation surgery, the dentist will create an incision on your empty socket and place collagen and the grafting material with the alveolar ridge. The collagen helps with healing, and the grafting material prevents bone loss.