Socket Preservation

Protect Your Jaw

Call 970-335-9533 Schedule Online

Prevent Bone Loss With Socket Preservation in Durango

Protecting your jawbone after a tooth extraction helps preserve your facial appearance and keeps your options open for future dental work. It can also help ensure a better fit for dentures. Socket preservation in Durango helps you enjoy these benefits by preventing bone loss after tooth removal. This surgical procedure is performed at the time of your extraction.

Recovery feels much like a typical tooth removal. When you're ready for a new tooth, the path is simpler and often faster. There's no need to rush into your next treatment, either. With the socket protected, you can take the time you need to budget, plan, and choose the tooth replacement that suits you.

Call 970-335-9533 to Schedule
a man wearing glasses
a man wearing glasses

Keep Your Smile Supported After Tooth Removal

Tooth roots keep your jawbone healthy. Each time you chew, those roots send signals that tell your body to maintain the bone. When a root is gone, your body begins to reabsorb the bone that held it.

The change happens fastest in the first several months after surgery. Preserving that bone keeps nearby teeth stable and your gumline healthy. It also helps you avoid a sunken look as the years pass.

Bone loss matters most when you plan to replace the tooth. A dental implant needs enough bone height and width to anchor securely. A new tooth looks best when the gum beneath it stays full.

Without enough bone, you may need a larger graft before treatment, which adds time and cost. Preserving the socket early avoids that extra step.

a man sleeping on a bed
a man sleeping on a bed

Prepare for Your New Tooth From Day One

Socket preservation begins with a gentle extraction. Keeping the socket walls intact gives the graft a stronger frame to work with. Next, your dentist cleans the site and fills it with bone graft material. A protective layer, sometimes made with PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) from your own blood, covers the graft to encourage healing.

New bone forms over several months. We'll check your progress and let you know when the area is ready for an implant or other tooth replacement. When it's time, our 3-D imaging and computer-guided planning help us place your implant in the ideal spot.

Not every extraction needs a graft. We'll tell you honestly when it's necessary for your needs and goals.

Reach out to San Juan Smiles to see if you'd benefit from socket preservation in Durango, CO.

Call 970-335-9533 to Schedule

Read Why Our Patients Love Us

Always friendly and professional. All the staff display a high level of competence and they invest in the latest technology.

Ron T.

Staff are always friendly, competent and personable. A great experience for all things dental. I would highly recommend Dr. Lacey and his office.

Frank R.

So glad I made the switch to SJS! The team is great, friendly and welcoming. I love the accomadation off early morning appointments. My hygenists is efficient and thourough!! I am usually great with names-so sorry...

Great team, clean facility and definately A+ care!!!

JD C.

Gratitude to all who work here and help the process feel smooth and inviting! Great receptionist, hygienist, and Dr. Very thankful to have found a great dentist practice in Durango!

Dylan M.

Dr. Lacey and staff are terrific. Had the best teeth cleaning in a long time on my last visit and the recent one as well.

John P.

Friendly and thorough!

Kristi M.

Phenomenal experience! Dr. Lacey and his staff are very competent. Extremely comfortable environment with staff always checking up on you. Overall a great experience. I highly recommend this dental practice. State of the art equipment with Dr. Lacey’s expertise is a great combination. I am...
Phenomenal experience! Dr. Lacey and his staff are very competent. Extremely comfortable environment with staff always checking up on you. Overall a great experience. I highly recommend this dental practice. State of the art equipment with Dr. Lacey’s expertise is a great combination. I am thrilled about my new teeth and have received many compliments!

Ulivi A.

Did a great job with my cleaning - got rid of some yucky stains ! Staff and Dr Lacey and Dr sewell are all so friendly, kind and gentle …

Milly L.

Kiffany is fantastic and thorough! Dr. Lacey is so kind and gentle.

Amy R.

Everyone was so friendly - from the receptionists to the dental hygienists to the dentist. GREAT quality professional care provided!

Michelle B.

Frequently Asked Questions About Socket Preservation

How long after socket preservation can I get a dental implant? 

Getting a dental implant after socket preservation usually occurs three to six months after the graft. This gives your body time to replace the graft material with your own bone. Your dentist will use imaging to confirm the area is ready before moving forward.

Is socket preservation always needed after an extraction? 

Socket preservation is not always needed after an extraction. If you don't plan to replace the tooth, a graft may offer little benefit. It's most helpful when you want an implant, when the tooth is in a visible spot, or when the bone is already weak.

Is it normal to see a sand-like substance after a bone graft? 

Seeing a few small grains of a sand-like substance after a bone graft is often normal in the first days. These sandy bits are extra graft material working their way out. Call your dentist if you notice severe pain or signs of infection.

What material is used for socket preservation? 

Socket preservation uses bone graft material that your body slowly replaces with its own bone. Options include processed donor bone, animal-derived bone, and synthetic materials. All are carefully tested for safety. Your dentist will explain which material fits your needs and why.

Does socket preservation hurt? 

Socket preservation usually doesn't cause more pain than a normal extraction. The graft is placed while the area is still numb. You may have mild soreness and swelling for a few days. Most people manage it with over-the-counter pain relievers and cold packs.