Radiographic and Histologic Analysis 1–2 Years after Alveolar Ridge Preservation in Maxillary Premolar and Molar: A Case Report

After tooth extraction, notable ridge alterations occur due to resorption of bundle bones during the healing process. In areas with thin or damaged socket walls and multiple adjacent tooth extraction, dimensional changes are more prominent in the marginal proportion. In addition to the marginal changes, upper molar teeth are also vulnerable to pneumatization of the maxillary sinus. To reduce dimensional changes in extraction sockets, alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is favored by many clinicians in areas where a large amount of dimensional change is expected. This case report presents two cases of ARP using collagenated demineralized bovine bone mineral and demineralized porcine bone mineral in the apically involved upper premolar and molar, respectively. Implants were placed one and two years, respectively, after the ARP. Radiographic analyses of residual bone height and volume were measured using cone-beam-computed tomography (CBCT) and histologic analysis of newly formed mineralized bone and residual graft material percentages were measured from the collected tissue samples using a trephine bur. Implants were placed using a simple technique, without any additional bone grafts at the marginal proportion. The ARP technique could maintain the alveolar bone height and volume, as well as minimize the invasiveness of surgical procedures during implant surgery.