When a tooth is extracted, your jawbone naturally begins to shrink in that area—sometimes losing 30-50% of its volume within the first year. Ridge preservation is a procedure we perform at the time of extraction to slow this bone loss and keep your jaw in good shape for a future dental implant or bridge.
During the procedure, immediately after removing the tooth, we fill the empty socket with bone graft material and place a protective membrane over it. This prevents bone loss by stimulating your body's natural bone-building process and keeping unwanted soft tissue out of the socket. Over 3-6 months, the graft integrates and the bone stabilizes.
Ridge preservation doesn't replace your missing tooth, but it gives you options. If you decide to place a dental implant later, you'll likely have enough bone without needing an additional major bone graft. It's a smart preventive step that sets you up for better, simpler implant treatment down the road.