Aesthetic extractions with calcium sulfate and the principles of guided tissue regeneration

Extraction of maxillary anterior dentition can lead to a deformed ridge which may result in prosthetic difficulties. Compared to secondary soft tissue augmentation procedures, prevention of ridge collapse is a superior approach. A composite graft, consisting of 80% demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft material and 20% calcium sulfate, protected by a barrier composed entirely of calcium sulfate, can prevent ridge collapse. The learning object of this article is an increased understanding of the composite graft principles and the implementation technique.