Ridge preservation procedures revisited: A randomized controlled trial to evaluate dimensional changes with two...

Area of Science:

• Dental surgery
• Periodontology
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Limited research exists on how different surgical techniques for ridge preservation impact soft tissue parameters.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing post-extraction healing and future restorative procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of two distinct ridge preservation techniques on both soft and hard tissue dimensions following tooth extraction.
• To evaluate the efficacy of cross-linked versus non-crosslinked collagen membranes in maintaining alveolar ridge morphology.

Main Methods:

• Thirty patients undergoing tooth extraction were randomized into two groups: control (non-crosslinked membrane, primary closure) and experimental (cross-linked membrane, exposed).
• Alveolar ridge dimensions, including soft and hard tissue measurements, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and cast analysis, were recorded at baseline and after 6 months.
• Surgical re-entry was performed at the 6-month mark for tissue assessment.

Main Results:

• The experimental group (cross-linked membrane) demonstrated a significant increase in buccal keratinized tissue width (0.43 mm) compared to a loss in the control group (-1.57 mm) (P=0.006).
• Buccal tissue thickness also increased in the experimental group (0.46 mm) versus a decrease in the control group (-0.15 mm) (P=0.068).
• Crestal width reduction was significantly less in the experimental group (1.74 mm) than in the control group (4.18 mm) (P=0.003).

Conclusions:

• The use of a cross-linked collagen membrane with allograft, intentionally left non-submerged, leads to superior preservation of keratinized tissues.
• This technique provides comparable or improved osseous preservation of the alveolar ridge following extraction.
• The findings suggest that exposed cross-linked membranes are a viable option for enhancing soft tissue outcomes in ridge preservation.