Dr. Zalewsky demonstrating a treatment model

Dental Implants

Tooth Socket Preservation

Preserve the extraction site to protect the option of a future implant.

Dr. Zalewsky reviewing imaging with a patient

Dental Implants

Preserve the extraction site — protect the future implant.

If you are undergoing a tooth extraction, your dentist may also recommend that you undergo socket preservation.

After an extraction, an empty socket remains in the jawbone where the tooth was previously located. To limit bone loss and preserve the shape of the ridge, grafting material—typically derived from a human donor, an animal source, or a synthetic material—is placed into the socket. The graft may then be covered with a collagen membrane, and the area may be sutured to support healing.

Socket preservation helps maintain the structure of the jawbone and can provide a stronger foundation for the future placement of a dental implant.

At Precision Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, our specialty-trained periodontists our specialty-trained periodontists have years of experience treating a wide range of stages of gum disease and placing dental implants. To learn more about socket preservation, our clinic facilities, or to schedule an appointment for a procedure, contact our Alexandria, VA office at (703) 823-2422 or our Washington, D.C. office at (202) 296-3360.

Close-up view of a periodontal procedure

The Procedure

What to expect from your treatment.

Here's what your tooth socket preservation treatment looks like, step by step.

Patients Having a Tooth Extracted Can Have a

Patients having a tooth extracted can have a range of procedural experiences. As long as the teeth have erupted and are visible, they can typically be removed through a simple extraction technique. If you are having a simple tooth extraction, the procedure will begin with the administration of a local anesthetic, which will numb the area of the tooth being removed. Although this will lessen the amount of pain experienced, patients will still feel a sense of pressure as the tooth is being removed.

During the Extraction Process

During the extraction process, your periodontist will use tools to elevate the tooth from its socket, along with forceps to grasp the tooth for removal. Gauze will typically be used to control bleeding while this process is occurring. For more invasive cases, it may be necessary to make surgical incisions in the gums or break the tooth into smaller pieces so it can be properly removed. Once the tooth has been removed, the graft will be placed in the socket of the tooth that has been removed to prevent the socket from naturally closing. Once the graft is properly placed, the area will be sutured shut, and the healing process can begin.

Recovery & Aftercare

A short recovery, a long-term result.

To ensure that you minimize post-procedural risks and experience and have as smooth a recovery experience as possible, it is essential that you follow post-procedure instructions following your tooth extraction and socket preservation. Post-procedure care will vary from patient to patient and be informed by the type of dental extraction you have, but in general, it is important to avoid eating hard foods, refrain from smoking, and limit/avoid physical activity for at least the first two to three days, maybe longer, depending upon the severity of your extraction. Your periodontist may also recommend that you avoid brushing your teeth for the first day following the removal of your tooth.

Patients who have a tooth extraction and socket preservation typically experience mild bleeding following the procedure. To help manage bleeding, place fresh gauze over the socket where the tooth was extracted, replacing the gauze every 30-45 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Swelling following a tooth extraction procedure is also common and can generally be addressed through the use of ice packs and anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medication.

Once you have completed the healing process, it will not be necessary to follow additional aftercare instructions; however, in order to maximize the benefits of your procedure, it is imperative that you continue practicing good daily oral hygiene. Be sure to brush and floss twice daily and continue scheduling regular visits to your dentist or periodontist. These regular visits ensure that your teeth will receive regular professional cleanings and will also reduce your risk of developing underlying issues such as gingivitis or periodontitis. If you follow these best practices, you will enjoy a bright and healthy smile for many years to come!

Frequently Asked

Common questions about this treatment.

What should I know about Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

When wisdom teeth are removed, especially the lower ones, socket preservation is worth discussing before surgery. The extraction sockets are large and left alone they tend to lose height and width over the following months as the empty bone remodels. That may not matter if you never plan to place an implant back there, but if there's any chance of a future implant — for instance if a second molar in front is compromised and might need replacement someday — grafting the socket at the time of extraction preserves the bone architecture and dramatically reduces the need for a larger ridge augmentation later. We'll assess your specific case and make a recommendation before the extraction, not after.

What should I know about Smoking or Vaping After a Tooth Extraction?

Smoking and vaping are especially damaging after a socket preservation procedure because both directly interfere with the mechanism the graft depends on. The suction from inhaling can dislodge the blood clot that protects the graft material, leading to a dry socket. Nicotine constricts the small blood vessels feeding the site, which starves the graft of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to integrate with your natural bone. Combined, these two effects can cut graft success rates significantly. We ask patients to stop smoking or vaping for at least 72 hours after the procedure (longer is much better) and to avoid all suction pressure — no straws, no vape draws, no forceful spitting. If quitting entirely for the healing window is an option for you, this is the moment when it makes the most difference.

How Much Tooth Extraction Costs?

Socket preservation is typically an add-on to the tooth-extraction fee rather than a separate procedure, and it's what makes future implant placement predictable. The graft component itself runs approximately $300 to $1,200 per socket depending on the graft material used (patient's own bone, freeze-dried donor bone, or synthetic) and whether a barrier membrane is placed on top. Combined with the extraction fee, a total tooth-extraction-plus-socket-preservation cost usually lands in the $700 to $2,200 range per site. Most dental insurance plans cover the extraction and often a portion of the socket graft, especially when a future implant is planned. Because socket preservation can save you the cost of a much larger ridge augmentation later, it's frequently the more economical choice over the long run.

Cost & Payment

Money shouldn't stand between you and the care you deserve.

The cost of socket preservation will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including your dental insurance plan, what procedure is being performed in conjunction with and in addition to your socket preservation, and the severity of your case.

At Precision Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we are committed to ensuring that money is not a deterrent to our patients receiving the optimal dental health care they deserve. For this reason, we offer a range of payment options regardless of what type of treatment you are having, which our staff will be happy to explain and assist with. Our office insurance coordinators work with other insurance companies to assist patients with their claims.

For your convenience, Precision Periodontics and Implant Dentistry accepts cash, check, debit, and credit cards (Mastercard, American Express, Visa, and Discover). Our clinic also accepts GreenSky Patient Solutions, a financing option for procedures and treatments not typically covered by insurance or when insurance does not cover the entire cost. We are happy to provide an application in our office. You can find out more information about this service at https://www.greensky.com/patient-faq/.

For your convenience, we accept: