Ridge Preservation

Protect the Foundation of Your Smile After Tooth Loss

Tooth Removed? Don’t Let the Bone Go With It

When a tooth is extracted, the bone that once supported it begins to shrink almost immediately. Over time, this can lead to changes in your facial structure, make dentures harder to fit, or eliminate your future options for dental implants.

At Vivid Dental of Raleigh, we offer ridge preservation — a specialized bone grafting technique performed at the time of tooth extraction. This proactive approach helps maintain the height, width, and shape of your jawbone, giving you more options and better outcomes down the road.

What Is Ridge Preservation?

Ridge preservation is a type of bone graft placed directly into the empty socket after a tooth is removed. It prevents the collapse of surrounding bone and gum tissue, preserving the natural contours of your jaw.

This technique is ideal for patients who:

Plan to get dental implants in the future

Want to maintain optimal bone volume for a bridge or denture

Care about preserving facial appearance and oral function

Are unsure about replacement options and want to keep their choices open

The procedure is quick, safe, and performed during the same visit as your extraction.

Why Bone Loss Happens After an Extraction

When a tooth is removed, your body reabsorbs the unused bone in that area. Within the first 6–12 months, up to 25–50% of ridge volume can be lost — especially in the first few weeks.

This shrinkage can:

Ridge preservation is your best chance to avoid these complications and protect your long-term smile.

Why Choose Ridge Preservation?

Protects future treatment options like implants and bridges

Maintains facial structure and gum line appearance

Reduces the need for more complex bone grafting later

Minimally invasive and completed during extraction

Cost-effective compared to post-extraction grafting procedures

It’s a small investment that makes a big difference in your future oral health.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Ridge preservation is completed immediately after tooth extraction:

The tooth is gently removed with care to preserve surrounding tissue.

Bone graft material is placed into the socket.

A membrane may be applied to hold the graft in place and promote healing.

The area is closed with sutures and healing begins.

There’s no need for a separate appointment or procedure — and the recovery timeline is nearly identical to a standard extraction.

Healing and Next Steps

Most patients recover comfortably within a few days to a week. Over the next few months, the graft integrates with your natural bone.

Once healing is complete, we can move forward with:

Dental implants

Fixed bridges

Removable partial or full dentures

Ongoing monitoring and maintenance

We’ll guide you through your options and timing based on your individual treatment goals.

Why Vivid Dental of Raleigh?

Gentle, experienced surgical care delivered in-house

Honest recommendations and clear communication

Bilingual team to support English and Spanish speakers

Medicaid, VA, and commercial insurance accepted

Thorough post-op care and long-term planning support

We don’t just remove teeth — we protect what comes next.

You’re Not Too Late. You’re Right on Time.

If it’s been years since your last visit… if you’ve been living in pain… if you’ve been putting off care because you’re afraid of what we’ll find — we see you. And we’re here to walk with you through it all.

This is the place where you restart your oral health journey with a team that sees your worth, not your worries.