Enamel matrix derivative for alveolar ridge preservation: A randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Dental surgery
• Periodontology
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is crucial after tooth extraction to maintain bone volume.
• Deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) is a common grafting material for ARP.
• Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) may enhance bone regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare radiographic dimensional changes and patient-reported outcomes of ARP using DBBM with EMD versus DBBM alone.
• To evaluate the efficacy of DBBM with EMD in preserving alveolar ridge height and width.
• To assess patient comfort following ARP with the two different biomaterials.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 18 participants undergoing tooth extraction and ARP.
• Two treatment groups: ARP with DBBM/EMD or ARP with DBBM alone.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans at baseline and 6 months to measure alveolar ridge height (ARH) and width (ARW).

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in mean ARH and ARW between the DBBM/EMD and DBBM alone groups at 6 months.
• A significantly higher percentage of sites showed minimal ARH loss (<1mm) in the DBBM/EMD group (54.5%) compared to the DBBM alone group (14.3%).
• Patients reported significantly less bruising, bleeding, and pain in the first two days with the DBBM alone group.

Conclusions:

• Radiographic mean measurements of ARH and ARW did not differ significantly between ARP with DBBM/EMD and DBBM alone.
• DBBM with EMD demonstrated a trend towards better preservation of alveolar ridge height.
• DBBM alone was associated with improved early post-operative patient comfort.