Socket Preservation

Why choose us for socket preservation?

Specialist expertise – Our specialist team uses gentle, precise techniques to protect your bone and gum tissue at every stage of extraction.
Minimally invasive extractions – Wherever possible, we use atraumatic extraction methods to remove teeth with minimal disruption to the surrounding bone.
Future-proofs your smile – Preserving your bone now keeps dental implants and other replacement options straightforward later.
Open all week – We’re open 7 days a week and welcome late appointments, so getting the care you need fits around you.

What is socket preservation?

When a tooth is lost or removed, the bone that used to support it begins to shrink. This happens naturally and often quickly; a significant amount of that bone can be lost within the first few months. You may not notice it straight away, but over time it can change the shape of your jaw and face, making it much harder to fit a replacement tooth, such as a dental implant, further down the line.

Socket preservation (sometimes called alveolar ridge preservation) is carried out at the same time as your extraction. It involves placing a bone graft material into the socket immediately after the tooth is removed, so your body has a scaffold to rebuild around rather than losing volume. The result is a healthier, better-preserved jawbone and a much smoother path to whatever replacement treatment you choose next.

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Our socket preservation offer

There are many reasons to choose Pearl Dental Clinic for your extraction and socket preservation:

Comprehensive assessment and consultation before any treatment begins
Gentle, atraumatic extraction techniques designed to protect your bone and gum
Spread the cost over up to 24 months with our 0% finance payment plans
A variety of immediate temporary restoration options, so you’re never left with a visible gap
A clear treatment plan that sets you up for future dental implants, if needed

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Meet our specialist

Dr Junaid Malik is a registered specialist in Prosthodontics, with years of additional specialist training in restorative, implant, and aesthetic dentistry. He takes a considered, patient-centred approach to every extraction, planning so your future treatment options stay as open and straightforward as possible.

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How does socket preservation work?

1. Assessment – We start with a full assessment of the tooth in question, along with X-rays or a scan where needed, to confirm extraction is the right option and to plan your socket preservation.

2. Gentle extraction – Your tooth is removed using an atraumatic technique wherever possible, minimising trauma to the surrounding bone and gum tissue.

3. Bone graft placement – A bio-engineered graft material is placed straight into the socket to replace lost bone volume and encourage healthy new bone growth.

4. Protective dressing – A resorbable collagen dressing is placed over the graft to protect it and support the gum tissue as it heals.

5. Temporary restoration – If you’re suitable for treatment, we can fit a temporary restoration, so you’re not left with a gap in your smile while everything heals.

6. Your next step – Once healed, your jawbone is in the best possible condition for dental implants or another permanent replacement, should you choose to go ahead.

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Benefits of socket preservation

Less need for bone grafting later – preserving bone at the time of extraction reduces the likelihood of needing separate bone augmentation before implants.
Better implant success rates – a healthy, well-preserved jawbone gives dental implants the strongest possible foundation.
Maintains your facial structure – protecting bone volume helps prevent the sunken appearance that can follow tooth loss.

Frequently asked questions

: Not every extraction requires it, but it’s usually recommended if you’re planning to have a dental implant in the future or if the extraction site is likely to lose a significant amount of bone. We’ll advise you during your consultation.
: The procedure is carried out using local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during treatment. Some mild discomfort afterwards is normal and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
: Healing time varies, but you can typically expect the site to be ready for the next stage of treatment, such as an implant, within a few months.
: Where suitable, we can fit a temporary restoration, so your smile stays complete while the graft heals.
: Cost depends on your individual needs and the complexity of the extraction. We’ll give you a personalised quote after your consultation.
: Without it, the bone at the extraction site can shrink significantly within the first year, which may limit your future replacement options or mean additional bone grafting is needed later.

Call us today on 020 8547 9997

Whatever you need, our friendly team is looking forward to hearing from you.

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