Extraction and Ridge Preservation Followed by Delayed Implant Placement of a Second Mandibular Molar with Proximity to the Inferior Alveolar Nerve

Teeth are extracted for a variety of reasons, including trauma, pathology, and infection. Tooth loss has a direct effect on the quality of life of an individual, as it alters the capacity to speak, masticate, and socialize. After extraction of a tooth, a series of biological events takes place that results in substantial anatomical changes to the remaining bony architecture [1]. Investigators have demonstrated that post-extraction loss of bone volume is an irreversible process that has a predictable order, and results in horizontal as well as vertical deficits. Weijden et al., reported that the buccal aspect of bone resorbs first, more so in width than height, with mandibular bone resorption occurring before that of maxillary bone [2]. Disuse atrophy, which is one factor implicated in the resorption of the alveolar ridge, poses a significant problem for tooth replacement, specifically when implant therapy is planned [3]. As a result, the functional and esthetic rehabilitation of the edentulous area may be compromised