Effect of flapless ridge preservation with two different alloplastic materials in sockets with buccal dehiscence defects-volumetric and linear changes.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether or not one out of two alloplastic materials used for ridge preservation (RP) is superior to the other in terms of volumetric and linear ridge changes over time.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 16 adult beagle dogs, the distal roots of P3 and P4 were extracted and 50% of the buccal bone plate removed. Ridge preservation was performed randomly using two different alloplastic bone grafting substitutes (poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coated biphasic calcium phosphate particles consisting of 60% hydroxyapatite (HA) and 40% beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP=test 1), (a biphasic calcium phosphate consisting 60% HA and 40% ß-TCP=test 2) and a resorbable collagen membrane or a control group (sham). Sacrifice was performed at three time-points (4, 8, 16 weeks later). Impressions were taken before extraction, after RP, and at sacrifice, allowing for assessment of volumetric changes. A multi-way ANOVA was computed, and partial Type-II F tests were performed.
RESULTS: Both ridge preservation procedures minimized the volume loss compared to spontaneous healing. The median buccal volume changes between pre-extraction and sacrifice were - 1.76 mm (Q1 = - 2.56; Q3 = - 1.42) for test 1, - 1.62 mm (Q1 = - 2.06; Q3 = - 1.38) for test 2, and - 2.42 mm (Q1 = - 2.63; Q3 = - 2.03) for control. The mean ridge width measurements did not show statistically significant differences between test 1 (- 2.51 mm; Q1 = - 3.25; Q3 = - 1.70) and test 2 (- 2.04 mm; Q1 = - 3.82; Q3 = - 1.81) (p = 0.813), but between test and control (- 3.85 mm; Q1 = - 5.02; Q3 = - 3.27) (p = 0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Both RP techniques were successful in maintaining the buccal contour from pre-extraction to sacrifice to a similar extent and more favorable compared to spontaneous healing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alloplastic materials can successfully be used for RP procedures.