Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice Regarding Alveolar Ridge Preservation among Dental Professionals in Saudi Arabia

This study provides an assessment of alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) related knowledge, clinical behavior, and training gaps among dental professionals from Saudi Arabia (SA).

A national cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire distributed to 700 dental professionals in SA between November 2024 and April 2025. It included final-year students, interns, general practitioners, and specialists, and it covered the East, West, North, South, and Central regions of SA with an equal number of participants from each region. The 24-item questionnaire, developed based on current clinical guidelines and pilot tested for validity and clarity, assessed the theoretical knowledge (nine questions), diagnostic and awareness practices (seven questions), and clinical application of ARP and educational exposure (eight questions). The questionnaire was distributed via WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to examine relations across professional levels.

A total of 600 participants (response rate 86%) completed the survey (mean age: 22.13 ± 3.24 years; 57.3% male), including 127 interns and 6th-year students (21.2%), 414 general practitioners (69.0%), and 59 specialists (9.8%). While 93.8% reported familiarity with ARP and 95.3% acknowledged ridge remodeling, only 17.0% performed ARP daily, and only 33.0% had received formal training during dental school. Specialists consistently demonstrated higher competency in diagnostic use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), phenotype mapping, and atraumatic extraction techniques (p < 0.001). Students and interns showed significant deficits in procedural execution. Social media was cited as the primary knowledge source by 45.0% of respondents, and only 17.3% preferred hands-on training formats.

Dental professionals across SA demonstrated high knowledge and awareness of ARP; however, clinical application of ARP techniques remains limited, particularly among students and interns. Specialists consistently showed superior knowledge, awareness, and clinical practice compared to less experienced groups, highlighting a clear experience-based gradient.

Alveolar ridge preservation is a biologically guided intervention that reduces post-extraction bone resorption and optimizes conditions for future implant placement. Adequate knowledge, awareness, and clinical practice of this technique are essential to achieving favorable esthetic and functional outcomes in extraction sites planned for implants or prosthetic restorations. How to cite this article: Aseri AA. Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice Regarding Alveolar Ridge Preservation among Dental Professionals in Saudi Arabia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(12):1142-1152.