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Published September 2026

1 of 5A tooth has just come out, leaving an empty socket in the bone
  1. A tooth has just come out, leaving an empty socket in the bone
  2. Left on its own, the ridge of bone narrows as the socket heals
  3. Graft granules fill the socket and a small cover holds them in place
  4. Months of quiet healing follow
  5. The ridge keeps its width, ready if an implant comes later

Who usually does it

oral surgeon. Done by whoever removes the tooth, or by a periodontist or oral surgeon.

One question worth asking

Would a graft here matter for what I am planning to do with this space?

Socket bone graft and ridge smoothing

Extractions and wisdom teethBasicD7310D7311D7953

After a tooth comes out, the dentist may fill the socket with bone graft material so the jaw keeps its shape for a future implant, or smooth the bony ridge so a denture fits. Codes differ by whether teeth were removed at the same time and how many.

Graft material is packed into the empty socket right after the tooth comes out so the ridge keeps its width and height for a future implant. Ridge smoothing is the opposite errand: taking down sharp or uneven bone so a denture can rest evenly. Codes differ by whether teeth came out at the same visit and how much of the ridge is worked on.

Codes for this

D7310BasicRidge smoothing with extractions, four or more teethBone is smoothed at the same time as removing several teeth, usually before a denture.per quadrant · Done sometimesD7311BasicRidge smoothing with extractions, one to three teethThe same smoothing when only a few teeth are removed.per quadrant · Done sometimesD7953MajorSocket bone graftBone material placed in the empty socket right after an extraction to keep the jaw shape for an implant.per tooth · Done often

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Socket bone graft and ridge smoothing: what happens, step by step | TruthMolar