Extraction and bone graft

[Deepak]

Hi

Last week I saw my dentist and he mentioned that one of my back teeth has got a failed root canal and recommended that the tooth should be removed and a bone graft done with a collagen cover placed into the bone at the same time as the extraction. He says this method works well to prepare the bone for a dental implant in a few months. He quoted close to £900 for the extraction and bone graft and I wonder if this treatment is really worth it? Could I just have the tooth pulled and later on have a dental implant? Are there any benefits to having the bone graft and collagen cap done now?

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

It sounds like your dentist has recommended socket preservation which is very useful for patients who wish to have dental implants later on. Now you dont have to have socket preservation carried out but you should understand that after tooth extractions, the socket remodels and bone resorbs as time goes on.

The longer you leave the area without an implant, the more bone loss will occur. The result is that if you decide to have an implant years down the line, you may well need a bone graft before having an implant which adds cost and needs more time for your treatment.