Autogenous bone and a bovine bone substitute for ridge preservation: preliminary clinical and histologic findings

Tooth extractions lead to morphological changes of the alveolar ridge. For oral rehabilitation sufficient bone volume of the alveolar ridge is required. This clinical study compared the ability of Bio-Oss^® Collagen to autogenous bone to preserve bone volume after tooth extraction.

A total of 17 patients with 20 extraction sites were examined. After extraction, 10 sockets were each filled with either autogenous bone or Bio-Oss^® Collagen and covered with a resorbable membrane. The width of the alveolar ridge was measured postoperatively, and after 4 and 6 months respectively. Prior to implant insertion, a bone biopsy was taken from the grafted sites and evaluated histologically.

The width of the alveolar ridge in the Bio-Oss^® Collagen group decreased about 5.33 ± 6.62% after 4 months and 9.45 ± 10.51% after 6 months. The reduction in the group augmented with autogenous bone was 14.31 ± 21.41% after 4 months and 19.17 ± 8.38% after 6 months. No statistically significant differences were observed. The histological examination showed comparable area fractions of total bone in both groups (Bio-Oss^® Collagen: 59.99 ± 24.23%; autogenous bone: 61.55 ± 25.13%; p = 1.0).

The present study demonstrated that autogenous bone and Bio-Oss^® Collagen are suitable for ridge preservation. However, both techniques could not entirely prevent tissue volume loss.