Alveolar Ridge Preservation Using a Composite Graft Plug: Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes From a Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Periodontology
• Regenerative Dentistry

Background:

• Alveolar ridge preservation is crucial after tooth extraction to maintain bone dimensions.
• Various grafting materials have shown limited success in preserving ridge width.
• A composite graft plug (calcium apatite crystals in collagen matrix) and corticocancellous allograft are compared.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a composite graft plug versus a corticocancellous allograft for alveolar ridge preservation.
• To evaluate soft tissue thickness and bone dimensions post-extraction.

Main Methods:

• Randomized clinical trial with 24 participants undergoing single-rooted tooth extraction.
• Participants assigned to either composite plug or allograft group.
• Soft tissue thickness and cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) assessments at 4, 7, and 10 mm apical to the gingival margin were performed at baseline and 4 months.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant increases in soft tissue thickness, with the composite plug group exhibiting a greater increase.
• Radiographic analysis revealed greater bone width reduction in the composite plug group compared to the allograft group (1.36, 1.3, and 1 mm differences).
• The composite plug demonstrated better preservation of vertical bone height than the allograft.

Conclusions:

• Allografts combined with a collagen plug appear more effective than composite graft plugs for preserving alveolar ridge width.
• Composite graft plugs may lead to greater bone width reduction but offer better vertical height maintenance.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the long-term efficacy of these materials.