If you’ve had one tooth or several teeth missing for a long time, there’s a chance that the bone, below where those teeth would have been, have now become broken down. A breakdown in bone structure can also be caused by:

•  Infection
•  Facial trauma
•  Growth deformity
•  Periodontal disease
•  Untreated cavities

In addition, when teeth are extracted, the surrounding bone and gums can shrink and recede very quickly after the extraction resulting in defects and collapse of your lips and cheeks. These jaw defects can create major problems in performing future restorative dentistry whether your treatment involves dental implants, bridges or dentures. Jaw deformities from tooth removal can be prevented and repaired by a procedure called socket preservation. Socket preservation can greatly improve your smile’s appearance and increase your chances for successful  dental implants  for years to come. Depending on his patient’s unique situation, Dr. Ouyar Hossein has been using various techniques to preserve bone and minimize bone loss after an extraction. In one common method, the tooth is removed and the socket is filled with bone or bone substitute. It is then covered with gum, artificial membrane, or tissue-stimulating proteins to encourage the body’s natural ability to repair the socket. With this method, the socket heals with minimum shrinkage and collapse of surrounding gum and facial tissues. The newly formed bone in the socket also provides a foundation for an implant to replace the tooth.