ALEOLAR SOCKET PRESERVATION

The extraction of a natural tooth is one of the most widely performed procedures in dentistry today. After tooth extraction, it is well documented in the literature significant morphologic and dimensional changes occur to the extraction socket. When hard and soft tissue is lost, an increased difficulty in implant placement results, which compromises the final prosthetic outcome. Therefore, extraction sites must be treated predictably to maintain the hard and soft tissue volume. Many clinicians treat all sockets the same, with a set treatment protocol to provide for the placement of a future implant. However, the morphology, most specifically the number of remaining bony walls, plays a significant role in the amount of resorption after extraction. Therefore, an extraction socket treatment protocol has been established which is dictated by the number of remaining walls. Each classification involves a different treatment protocol to maintain the available bone and regenerate bone within the socket area so that ideal implant placement may be completed later.