Postextraction ridge preservation and augmentation with mineralized allograft with or without recombinant human...

In an attempt to reduce postextraction alveolar bone resorption, ridge preservation and augmentation procedures have become standard-of-care treatment following tooth removal. This consecutive case series compares histologic and histomorphometric bone regenerative findings at 4 months following grafting for ridge preservation and augmentation in intact sockets and sockets with buccal wall defects. Sites were treated with mineralized allograft alone (control) or in combination with 0.3 mg/mL recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor BB (rhPDGF-BB) (test). Sites were allowed to heal for 4 months and then re-entered for trephine core biopsy and implant placement. At the end of 4 months, the mean percent remaining mineralized allograft was statistically significantly less in the test group than in the control group. The difference in mean percent vital bone between the groups showed a strong trend toward greater bone formation for the test group (41.8%) compared to the control group (32.5%) at the end of 4 months. Addition of growth factor signaling molecules to current grafting procedures may lead to accelerated bone regeneration, making it possible to successfully place implants at earlier time points.