Changes in Ridge Dimension with Pontics Immediately Placed at Extraction Sites: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Prosthodontics
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Alveolar ridge dimensional changes following tooth extraction can compromise aesthetic outcomes and implant placement.
• Traditional management often involves bone grafting to preserve ridge volume, adding complexity and cost.
• Ovate pontics are designed to engage the extraction socket, potentially offering a simpler method for contour preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the dimensional stability of the alveolar ridge after immediate placement of a fixed ovate pontic provisional restoration.
• To compare dimensional changes with and without socket grafting following extraction.
• To assess the efficacy of ovate pontics in preserving buccolingual and incisoapical dimensions.

Main Methods:

• Prospective clinical study involving immediate placement of fixed ovate pontic provisional restorations into intact extraction sockets.
• No bone grafting was performed in the sockets.
• Dimensional changes (buccolingual and incisoapical) were measured at 1 and 3 months post-extraction.

Main Results:

• Mean buccolingual dimensional change was 0.51 ± 0.48 mm at 1 month and 0.93 ± 0.55 mm at 3 months.
• Mean incisoapical dimensional change was 0.68 ± 0.19 mm at 1 month and 1.64 ± 1.35 mm at 3 months.
• These changes are significantly less than reported dimensional changes (3-5 mm width, 1-4 mm height) for untreated extraction sockets.

Conclusions:

• Immediate placement of ovate pontic provisional restorations effectively preserves alveolar ridge dimensions without grafting.
• This technique supports the maintenance of soft tissue contour following tooth extraction.
• Further research is warranted to compare outcomes with grafting procedures for potentially enhanced dimensional stability.