Alveolar preservation, also called alveolar ridge preservation or preservation of the maxillary alveolar ridge, is a procedure used to reduce the amount of bone loss that can occur after extracting a tooth. This procedure is typically done when a tooth is extracted with the intention of placing an implant at a later date. Because of the risk of bone loss after the extraction of a tooth (between 30-60% is expected), it’s important to be proactive if you are confident that an implant will be placed. The procedure involves placing a platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) into the empty socket after the tooth is removed. PRF contains a high concentration of platelets, which are the body’s natural healing mechanism. Additionally, a periodontist can choose to use a scaffold or bone grafting material instead of PRF. Without alveolar preservation, the alveolar ridge will not maintain proper shape and the tissue can become contoured in a way that makes placing an implant challenging.