Can Ridge Preservation Help to Maintain Your Smile?
Posted on 12/1/2025 by Glen Perio
Losing a tooth can be a difficult experience, both emotionally and physically. Not only can it affect your ability to chew and speak clearly, but it can also impact the appearance of your smile. Fortunately, a procedure called ridge preservation can help to maintain the health and appearance of your jawbone and gums following tooth extraction.
What is Ridge Preservation?
Ridge preservation is a surgical procedure that helps to preserve the natural shape and volume of your jawbone after a tooth extraction. The procedure involves grafting bone or other biocompatible materials into the extraction site. This helps to prevent the bone from shrinking, which can lead to a sunken appearance in the jaw and make it difficult to place dental implants in the future.
Why is Ridge Preservation Important?
There are several reasons why ridge preservation is important:
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Maintains the natural shape of your jawbone: Ridge preservation helps to prevent the jawbone from shrinking, which can lead to a sunken appearance in the face. This can make it difficult to place dental implants in the future and can also impact the appearance of your smile.
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Preserves the volume of your jawbone: The bone that surrounds your teeth helps to support your facial structure. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone begins to shrink. Ridge preservation helps to preserve the volume of your jawbone, which can help to maintain the shape of your face and prevent premature aging.
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Makes it easier to place dental implants: Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that can be used to replace missing teeth. When a tooth is extracted, the jawbone begins to shrink, which can make it difficult to place dental implants. Ridge preservation helps to preserve the bone, making it easier and more successful to place dental implants in the future.
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Improves the success rate of dental implants: Studies have shown that ridge preservation can improve the success rate of dental implants. This is because the preserved bone provides a stronger foundation for the implant.
Who is a Candidate for Ridge Preservation?
Ridge preservation is typically recommended for patients who are planning to have a tooth extracted, especially if they are considering dental implants in the future. However, it can also be beneficial for patients who have already lost a tooth and are experiencing bone loss.
What to Expect During Ridge Preservation
Ridge preservation is typically performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. The procedure usually takes about an hour to complete. During the procedure, your periodontist will make a small incision in your gum tissue and place the bone graft material into the extraction site. The incision will then be closed with sutures.
Recovery after Ridge Preservation
After the procedure, you may experience some swelling and discomfort. Your periodontist will prescribe pain medication and provide you with instructions on how to care for the surgical site. It is important to follow your periodontist’s instructions carefully to ensure proper healing.
Conclusion
Ridge preservation is a valuable procedure that can help to maintain the health and appearance of your smile after tooth extraction. If you are considering having a tooth extracted, talk to your periodontist about whether ridge preservation is right for you.
About |Dental Implants Glenview, IL | Glen Perio At Glen Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we provide the best services for patients, when it comes to implant and periodontal treatments. Call our experts here! Glen Perio - Dr. Joshua Hassan, 2640 Patriot Boulevard Suite 140, Glenview, IL 60026 / 224-488-3392 / glenperio.com / 12/4/2025 / Related Phrases: dental implants Glenview IL /
Losing a tooth can be a difficult experience, both emotionally and physically. Not only can it affect your ability to chew and speak clearly, but it can also impact the appearance of your smile. Fortunately, a procedure called ridge preservation can help to maintain the health and appearance of your jawbone and gums following tooth extraction.