Bone Grafting
When a tooth is extracted, bone loss occurs rapidly. Up to 50% of the bone height and width will likely be lost within the first six months. Without intervention bone loss will continue. This makes it difficult or sometimes impossible to wear dentures, and can disqualify you as a candidate for implants. However, bone loss after an extraction can be prevented. If graft material is placed into the site soon after the tooth has been removed, little to no bone loss will occur.
Bone loss following tooth extraction (no bone graft)
The graft material used in our office is a particulate collected from a cadaver. In some cases, we also use porcine bone particulate. Both types of graft materials are re-hydrated before placement, usually with the serum collected from the PRF. This helps your body to accept the graft since it recognizes the serum as its own cells. Finally the graft material is covered with a membrane which essentially acts as a lid to seal the particulate in while the site heals.