Abstract

The contour of the residual ridge is reduced within 1 year by approximately 25% in width after the extraction of a natural tooth. The augmentation of a tooth socket after an extraction decreases the loss of available bone width for an endosteal implant. Grafting at the same time as the extraction has benefits from both a patient and doctor perspective. However, primary closure is more difficult, and may require the facial keratinized gingiva to be undermined and approximated on the crest of the ridge, or the use of membranes, which are exposed during the soft tissue healing. The modified socket seal surgery uses a technique described by Landsberg and couples his procedure with autologous bone harvested from the maxillary tuberosity. As a result, the tooth extraction socket may be augmented with autologous bone and connective tissue with a simplified approach at the same time as the extraction of a tooth.