Considerations for Socket Preservation

When a tooth is removed, a periodontist in New York City will evaluate a host of factors ranging from whether or not the remaining socket walls of the extraction site are intact, whether they are thick or thin, if there is a hole (known as a fenestration) present, or a crack in one of the bony walls (known as a dehiscence). The type of gum tissue also matters, whether it is fragile or dense, and if there are esthetic considerations for the final dental implant restoration.

Understanding these factors and how they contribute to the healing process of the extraction sites are best understood by a New York City periodontist. Periodontists are trained to understand wound healing, when dental implants should be inserted, and what type of dental implant should be used.

Bone graft for dental implants

During socket preservation – the goal of which is to prepare the extraction site of a dental implant – a bone graft is packed into the extraction site. This bone may come from elsewhere in the patient’s mouth, from an approved tissue bank, or may be an alternative graft material.

Graft material is inserted into the socket.

Once a graft is inserted into a socket, healing usually takes 6-12 weeks, depending on what sort of material was used and what the goals of the socket preservation are.

The graft material is replaced by new bone.

Based on the periodontist’s experience, knowledge of the specific extraction site, and what the expected outcome should be (both esthetic and functional), the dental implant is inserted into the area of the missing tooth.

Socket preservation is best treated by periodontists who understand wound healing and how extraction sites should be prepared for dental implants in New York City.

Thin tissue permits implant to be visible through gums

While virtually all dental implants are composed of titanium, and regardless of how the surface is roughened to enhance bone attachment, the implants are gray. To date, attempts to make “white” dental implants have not been all that successful. But now, there is a new implant by Keystone Dental, Inc., that addresses this important esthetic issue.

Keystone has created the “Genesis” implant that has a pink collar that is called, AnaTite that projects a hue that resembles gingival tissue. Not only is the collar pink on this dental implant, but the abutment which supports the crown, is also pink.

The result is an esthetic crown, supported by a stable dental implant under the gums.

The picture, below demonstrates the cosmetic benefit of using the Genesis dental implant in NYC.

Dental implants in New York City are a successful procedure that can be enhanced by the type of implant used. While most implants osseointegrate, the biotype of a patient’s gingival may affect the esthetic outcome. Patients needing implants in NYC should become familiar with their tissue type, whether it is thin or thick, and what cosmetic outcome can be expected from a New York City periodontist inserting a dental implant.