Extraction environment enhancement: critical evaluation of early socket healing in long-term barrier-protected...

Resorption and remodeling of the alveolar bone occurs after periodontal disease, trauma, or tooth extraction. Loss of the functional apparatus can have a deleterious effect on the ability to place endosseous root-form implants into prosthetically ideal locations. As a result, there has been a trend toward socket preservation at the time of extraction. However, there has been limited investigation with histologic verification of results on types of materials used to preserve or augment extraction sockets. Minimizing bone loss after extractions enables an implant to be placed in an ideal orientation surrounded by bone, thereby increasing the longevity of the implant and associated prosthesis. The case reports presented detail clinical and histological results during the 3 to 6 months after a bone maintenance procedure that used a nonexpanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier placed over an extraction socket with no graft material at the time of tooth extraction.