Extraction with Socket Grafting

[yasmin13]

Three weeks ago, molar #2 was extracted and grafted. About 4-5 days after extraction, I noticed that the suture came off. Is it normal to still have granules of bone coming out of the socket after 3 weeks? If the socket was grafted, why do I still see a hole? I am afraid that it is loosing some of the graft but the surgeon told me it looks fine. I am afraid that I would need grafting again when he place the implant and have to pay for grafting again.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your post. We would need to see your graft to see if its working OK or losing bone grafting material. Some loss of bovine derived bone grafting granules is inevitable after bone grafting but if a lot of bone grafting material is being lost and the gum flap has fully opened, that would not be good.

The gum flap will need to be assessed to see if it requires new sutures and its usually possible to re-suture a gum flap so it covers the area that its supposed to cover. The bone grafting material so far lost will have to be assessed to see if enough bone grafting material is still present.

6 months after bone grafting, we usually go back into the site to place the implant and if we feel that the patient needs a little bit more bone grafting material around the implants, we don't charge for the extra grafting material needed at that point.