When a tooth needs to be removed, the bone and gum around it change as the socket heals. Ridge preservation may help limit the loss of bone volume while you prepare for future tooth replacement.
Private care with Dr. Sahand Shirzadi Maryan and/or Dr. Sergi Rivas Frau, according to your treatment plan.
This composite includes clinical views and radiographs dated February and October 2024. The dates relate to this documented sequence; they are not a treatment timetable or a prediction of your result.
The ridge is the part of the jaw that supports the teeth. After extraction it can lose width and height. Socket or ridge preservation aims to reduce that loss, often using a graft within the socket and a protective covering.
The intended benefit
A site planned for replacement
Preservation may help retain ridge dimensions when a future implant is planned. The expected benefit depends on the socket walls, tissue condition and the position needed for the replacement tooth.
The practical limit
Further grafting may be needed
Preservation cannot prevent every change after extraction. Missing bone walls or a larger defect may need more extensive reconstruction, either at extraction or during a later stage.
The plan should reflect how the space will be managed. An implant, a bridge, a removable denture or accepting the space can involve different considerations; grafting is not automatic simply because a tooth is removed.
The sequence matters
Manage the socket. Allow healing. Review the options.
Extraction & preservation
The tooth is removed with attention to the remaining tissues. The socket is assessed and managed, with graft material and a membrane or other covering used when indicated.
Protected healing
The surface gum and the underlying grafted site heal differently. A closed-looking socket does not confirm that the area is ready for an implant. Temporary teeth, if needed, must protect the healing site.
Implant & restoration planning
Examination and appropriate imaging guide the next stage. If implant treatment remains suitable, placement is planned around the available bone and future tooth; the final crown or bridge is a separate restorative step.
Plan before extraction. Review before implant placement.
01
Assess the tooth before extraction
We first review whether the tooth can be maintained. If extraction is appropriate, the examination and relevant imaging help assess the socket, gum tissue and options for replacing the tooth.
02
Agree the site and replacement plan
Discuss whether to let the socket heal without a graft, preserve the ridge or consider immediate implant placement. The future tooth position, your priorities and the condition of the site guide the decision.
03
Extract and manage the socket
Private surgery is provided by Sahand and/or Sergi according to your plan. After extraction, the socket is assessed directly. If preservation is indicated, the graft and any covering are selected to suit the defect.
04
Review healing before the next stage
Follow-up is normally with our periodontist team. The healed site is reassessed before implant placement; additional grafting may still be needed. Agree who will provide temporary and final teeth and ongoing care.
Soreness, swelling and some bleeding can follow extraction and grafting. Follow the treating team’s instructions for cleaning, eating and protecting the socket. Contact them for worsening pain or swelling, persistent bleeding, fever or concerns about the graft or covering.
Before choosing a date, discuss work, exercise, travel and planned reviews. Ask for written aftercare instructions and a contact route for concerns during recovery.
Risks and changes to the plan
Risks include infection, delayed healing, exposure or loss of graft material and incomplete bone formation. The ridge may still shrink, and further grafting or a different replacement plan may be necessary. Implant placement is not guaranteed by socket preservation.
Smoking, infection, tissue condition and medical factors can affect healing. Tell the team about your medicines and health history, and agree the review schedule before surgery. The next stage is guided by reassessment of the site.
No. The need depends on the socket, the surrounding tissues, the future replacement plan and your preferences. Some sites can heal without grafting. Ask what benefit preservation is expected to offer in your particular case.
Is ridge preservation the same as an immediate implant?
No. Ridge preservation manages the extraction socket while the site heals, usually with a later implant decision. Immediate placement means inserting the implant during the extraction visit. They involve different treatment sequences; grafting may also be used around an immediate implant.
Will preservation prevent all bone shrinkage?
No. The ridge changes after a tooth is removed. Preservation aims to limit those changes, but it does not keep the site exactly as it was or guarantee enough bone for a future implant without further grafting.
Can the tooth be saved instead?
That should be considered before extraction. Depending on the diagnosis, periodontal, root canal or restorative care may be appropriate. Ask why removal is being recommended and whether a tooth-preserving option remains realistic.
What if the tooth is infected or a socket wall is missing?
Infection and the size and shape of any bone defect affect the plan. The site needs assessment and appropriate management; a more extensive defect may require a different reconstruction approach. A routine socket graft is not the answer to every extraction site.
Which graft material would you use?
The choice depends on the defect and the proposed treatment. Ask about the material’s source, why it is recommended and whether a membrane or other covering will be used. Mention preferences about human, animal or synthetic materials before agreeing to treatment.
How long before I can have the implant and final tooth?
There is no single schedule for every site. Healing, the tissues present and the planned restoration determine the sequence. Implant placement and the final crown are separate stages; ask for an individual plan including a temporary tooth if needed.
What if my tooth has already been removed?
You can still have an assessment for replacement. Classic socket preservation is planned around extraction; once the site has healed, the remaining ridge is assessed and any grafting is planned according to the current defect.
How should I plan costs and travel?
Ask whether the estimate includes extraction, graft and membrane, reviews, implants, temporary and final teeth, and any further grafting. Agree the sequence and follow-up with the team before booking travel; an enquiry cannot confirm suitability or treatment dates.
Is the reduced-fee supervised programme available?
The separate programme is still in preparation and is not available to book. Its intended operators are qualified dentists undertaking further clinical training with OsteoPerio, with both Sahand and Sergi present during surgery. Eligibility for ridge preservation has not been confirmed.
Tell us which tooth is affected, whether extraction has been advised or already performed, and how you hope to replace it. The team can explain which records may help with assessment. Acute pain or swelling needs prompt dental care.
