Originally Posted by Bryanna

Sadie,

Oral surgeons have been placing dental implants routinely for many years. Periodontists have been placing them more recently.... maybe 10 yrs or so.

It is important to discuss with the oral surgeon at the time of the extraction the preparation of the socket for a future implant even if you decide not to have an implant. The bone grafting encourages new bone to grow in that space which is beneficial irrelevant of whether you have an implant placed later on or not. You have about a year to place an implant in newly grafted bone. After that time frame the bone will start to recede if there is nothing in it to maintain the level.

The socket needs to be healthy in order for the bone graft to be placed. If the socket is infected... the graft will also become infected and fail. So the oral surgeon would make a judgement call once the tooth is removed as to whether the graft should be done at the time of the extraction.

Regarding the extraction....
It is imperative that:
The tooth be removed as gently as possible...
The periodontal ligament be completely removed...
The socket and bone be thoroughly debrided of all necrotic tissue and bone.

Dental implants are titanium or zirconium and look similar to small screws. The bone needs to be healthy and plentiful in order for dental implants to integrate properly and healthfully.

Bryanna