DOI: 10.11607/jomi.107548. Mar 2024,Language: EnglishIida, Takahisa / Miki, Michihide / Ferri, Mauro / Guzon, Fernando M. Muñoz / Cesaretti, Gianfranco / Botticelli, Daniele
Background: After tooth extraction, a physiological shrinkage of the alveolar ridge occurs.
Applying a buccal overbuilding some months before tooth extraction may create a stiffer hard
tissue that might protect the alveolar crest from resorption. Hence, the aim of this experiment
was to evaluate the dimensional changes in the alveolar crest after buccal overbuilding
performed before tooth extraction. Materials and Methods: At the test sites, an alveolar crest
overbuilding was performed on the buccal aspect of the distal root of the third premolar using
xenograft covered with a collagen membrane. No treatment was applied at the control sites. After
3 months, the distal roots of both third premolars were extracted and implants were immediately
installed into the alveolus allowing a non-submerged healing. After 3 months, biopsies were
collected. Results: At the histological analyses, no statistically significant differences in hard
tissue dimensions were found. The buccal bone plate at the test sites presented a tendency of
higher resorption compared to the control sites. However, if the contribution of the residues of
biomaterial was considered, a higher volumetric gain was registered at the test than at the control
sites. Conclusions: The buccal overbuilding performed before tooth extraction did not contribute
to the preservation of the alveolar crest dimensions after extraction. This could be due to failure
to incorporate the graft into the newly formed bone.
