Socket Preservation — San Luis Obispo, CA
Protecting the jawbone right after an extraction
A bone graft placed at the time of extraction to stop the socket from shrinking, so your options later, including an implant, stay open.
Overview
What is socket preservation?
After a tooth comes out, the surrounding bone and gum can shrink surprisingly fast, sometimes changing the shape of your jaw and smile within weeks. Socket preservation fills the empty socket with bone graft material right after the extraction, in the same visit, so that shrinkage doesn’t happen.
It matters most if you’re planning to replace the tooth later, whether with an implant, a bridge, or a denture, and especially for front teeth where the shape of the ridge shows.
Urgent? Call 805-541-5611
Candidacy & Indications
Am I a Candidate for Socket Preservation?
Socket preservation is worth discussing if:
- You’re planning to replace the tooth later with an implant, bridge, or denture.
- The extraction is a front tooth, where the shape of the ridge affects your smile.
- The site already shows signs of bone loss or infection.
We’ll talk through whether it applies to your case as part of planning any extraction.
Dr. Janette’s Approach
Our approach to socket preservation
Dr. Adam Janette is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Because he handles extractions, grafting, and implant placement in one practice, socket preservation is built into your extraction plan from the start when it applies, not offered as an afterthought.
Office Technology
The technology we use for socket preservation
3D / panoramic imaging
Shows the roots and surrounding bone before the extraction begins.
Why it matters: the extraction and the graft are planned together, not decided in the moment.
Extraction-to-implant continuity
The graft is placed the same visit as the extraction, no second procedure needed.
Why it matters: the tooth comes out with your future options already protected.
What to Expect
How socket preservation works
Before: planning the extraction
When we plan your extraction, we’ll talk through whether socket preservation applies, especially if you’re thinking about an implant later or the tooth is a visible front tooth. You’ll get a written estimate that includes it.
During: the same visit
Right after the tooth is removed, the socket is filled with graft material and covered with gum tissue or a membrane, typically under local or IV anesthesia. No separate appointment is needed.
After: healing with the shape protected
The socket heals with its shape preserved, giving you a solid foundation whenever you’re ready for the next step, whether that’s an implant, a bridge, or a denture.
Case Study
A recent case
Case Study · Socket Preservation
[PROOF: one de-identified case — front-tooth extraction with socket preservation → implant placement, smile preserved.]
Read the full case study →Recovery & Post-Op
Your first weeks after surgery
- Soreness, swelling, and a little bleeding for the first day or two; normal, and managed with the plan we send home.
- Eat soft foods and avoid disturbing the site.
- Don’t smoke or rinse vigorously for the first few days, it can dislodge the graft.
- The site heals quietly underneath over the following weeks.
- These are general guides. Follow the specific instructions your surgeon gives you.
When to call us
Contact the office for things like bleeding that won’t stop with gentle pressure, swelling that worsens after a few days, fever, or graft material that feels like it’s coming loose. Call the office with any concern.
Cost & Insurance
Cost of socket preservation
Cost depends on the site and the graft material used, and it’s usually added to the cost of the extraction itself. We check your dental coverage before the consultation, the estimate you get is in writing, and third-party financing can spread the cost if needed.
Frequently Asked
Questions patients ask us about socket preservation
Not necessarily. It matters most if you’re planning to replace the tooth later, or the tooth is a visible front tooth where the shape of the ridge shows. We’ll tell you plainly if it applies to your case.
Not much. Since it’s done right after the tooth comes out, in the same visit, it adds a short amount of time to an extraction you’re already having.
The area is numbed, and IV anesthesia is available if you’d prefer it, so it’s usually easier than people expect. There’s some soreness afterward, managed with the plan we send home.
It depends on the site and graft material used. Your consultation ends with a written estimate, and our office checks your coverage beforehand.
Patient Experiences
In our patients’ words
“My family dentist tried his best but the tooth was too much… Dr. Janette and his team were the best.”
“I just had a tooth extraction and an implant put in this morning. No pain at all.”
Ready to talk through your case?
Request a consultation. CBCT imaging, clinical exam, and a written treatment plan with fee quote at your first visit.