Management of the extraction socket and alveolar ridge preservation

An understanding of the changes which occur to the alveolar ridge following an extraction are important in the era of dental implants, and these changes can have a huge impact on the simplicity and invasiveness of dental implant treatment. It has been demonstrated that certain techniques and materials, utilized at the time of extraction, can modify the changes in the alveolar ridge, allowing idealized implant placement with minimal surgical interventions. Techniques for and evidence supporting alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) are presented.