Site Preservation Material Fell Out?

[anneibclc]

Question: after extraction of #3 molar due to extensive external resorption, 'site preservation' was performed. Stitches were removed one week after extraction. Site preservation material fell out the next day. Two months later, socket was extremely sensitive to cold and heat, and a different oral surgeon determined via x-ray and clinical exam that extensive bone loss had occurred, exposing the nerve of the adjacent molar. His opinion was that an additional bone grafting procedure would be needed in order to prevent loss of tooth or placement of implants.

In your opinion, could the fact that the site preservation material fell out so soon after the extraction and was never replaced have contributed to the extensive bone loss presenting 8 weeks post-extraction?

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

Very likely no the loss of material after does not contribute to bone loss (or as far as I am aware there is not scientific study to show this.

Once a tooth is extracted the bone at the site of the extraction undergoes a lot of changes with addition and loss of bone at the same time but in different parts of the healing site. This bone remodeling always happen after tooth extraction and the aim of site preservation is to reduce the bone loss and reducing the amount of bone grafting that may be needed for implant placement. Thus may be more bone would have been saved if the material had remained in place but its loss does not contribute to bone loss as such.