Ridge Preservation

After a tooth is removed, the bone around it can begin to shrink—sometimes within weeks. This can change your smile and make future treatments, like implants, more complex. At Guiding Light Dental, we offer ridge preservation to help protect the jawbone right after extraction.

schedule an appointment

What Is Ridge Preservation?

Ridge preservation is a treatment done right after a tooth is removed. When a tooth comes out, the surrounding bone often begins to shrink or lose shape. To help prevent this, we place a small bone graft into the empty socket.

The graft acts like a scaffold, encouraging your body to build new bone and maintain the natural contour of your jaw.

What Materials Are Used?

We use safe, biocompatible materials for bone grafting, such as:

Autografts – Bone taken from another part of your own body
‍Allografts – Donor bone from a human tissue bank ‍
Xenografts – Bone from a safe animal source, typically bovine ‍
Alloplasts – Synthetic bone material

The type of material we use depends on your specific needs, and we’ll walk you through every option with care and clarity.

Why Is Ridge Preservation Important?

Without support, the bone in the extraction area can shrink, which may lead to visible changes in your facial shape. It can also make placing a dental implant more difficult or require additional procedures later. In some cases, the lack of bone can affect how securely dentures or bridges fit, leading to discomfort or a less natural look.

Ridge preservation helps maintain the strength and structure of your mouth for whatever comes next.

Benefits of Ridge Preservation

Helps maintain natural facial shape
Keeps the jawbone strong and healthy
Prepares the site for future dental implants
Supports better-fitting dentures or bridges
Reduces the need for additional bone grafting later

Will Ridge Preservation Hurt?

Most patients describe ridge preservation as similar to a regular tooth extraction. You may feel mild soreness for a few days, but it’s typically well managed with over-the-counter medication.

Our team will make sure you’re as comfortable as possible every step of the way.

Healing and Recovery Tips for Ridge Preservation

While the area heals over a few months, most people return to their normal routine quickly.

Here’s how to help the healing process go smoothly:

Avoid chewing near the area for a few days
Stick to soft foods at first
Follow all post-care instructions closely
Keep up with gentle brushing and rinsing
Attend all scheduled follow-up visits

Don’t Let Bone Loss Complicate Your Next Step

Contact Guiding Light Dental today to book your ridge preservation consultation. Whether you're planning for a dental implant or just want to keep your smile looking natural, we’ll help you protect the foundation before problems start.