What It Is
Filling the gap a tooth root leaves behind
When a tooth is extracted and an implant is to be placed, either simultaneously or in the future, it is always necessary to complete bone grafting within the residual sockets that are left behind after the roots of the tooth are removed.
The shape of a tooth root is always different from the shape of a dental implant, so there are always residual socket defects (holes) that must be filled in so that there can be excellent contact of the implant with the newly formed bone.
Why it matters
Preserving the socket at the time of extraction protects the bone from shrinking, often avoiding the need for a larger ridge augmentation later.