The Use of Flowable Decellularized Human Placental Connective Tissue Matrix in Alveolar Ridge Preservation: A...

Area of Science:

• Dental regenerative medicine
• Periodontology
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Tooth extraction leads to alveolar bone loss and soft tissue collapse, complicating dental implant placement.
• Existing ridge preservation techniques often fail to maintain both hard and soft tissue dimensions.
• Placental-derived extracellular matrices offer structural proteins that may support wound healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a flowable decellularized Human Placental Connective Tissue Matrix (HPCTM) combined with an allogeneic bone substitute for alveolar ridge preservation.
• To assess the primary outcome of soft tissue changes and the secondary outcome of bone volume preservation post-extraction.

Main Methods:

• A split-mouth, randomized pilot trial involving atraumatic extraction of hopeless teeth.
• Test sites grafted with allograft and HPCTM; control sites received allograft alone.
• Clinical and digital assessments including intra-oral scans, standardized photographs, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) at 4 months.

Main Results:

• HPCTM treated sites demonstrated faster and more stable healing with significantly reduced gingival shrinkage.
• Median gingival shrinkage differences favoring HPCTM were observed at 10, 21, and 30 days post-operatively (p < 0.004).
• Radiographic analysis showed significantly less bone volume loss in HPCTM treated sites (28.24%) compared to controls (38.85%; p = 0.019).

Conclusions:

• HPCTM, when used with an allogeneic bone substitute, supports enhanced preservation of gingival architecture following tooth extraction.
• The study indicates that HPCTM contributes to superior maintenance of alveolar bone volume compared to allograft alone.
• This placental-derived matrix shows promise as an adjunct for improving outcomes in alveolar ridge preservation procedures.