Alveolar ridge resorption following tooth extraction is an extremely common and generally inevitable side effect of removing a tooth from its socket in the alveolar ridge. Between 30-60% of bone is typically “lost” or resorb into the alveolar ridge, which unfortunately gives periodontists little to work with when planning a dental implant procedure. However, many techniques have been developed to reduce the amount of bone loss immediately after a tooth extraction if it is known that a dental implant will be placed there at a later date. In cases where a tooth has been removed and has healed with bone loss, one or more bone grafting procedures may be done to improve the density and amount of bone available in the alveolar ridge before the implantation procedure. Alveolar ridge resorption can pose a challenge for dental implant care plans, however, skilled periodontists have a wealth of tools at their disposal to counteract this common but difficult problem.