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This study sought to evaluate gingival volume changes following root coverage with the vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access (VISTA) procedure. Pre- and postoperative surface scans of 21 patients (154 teeth) treated with VISTA using various graft materials were digitally superimposed to quantify volumetric changes. A linear gingival thickness gain of approximately 1 mm and volumetric gain of 5.47 mm3 were achieved. A negative correlation was found between linear thickness gain and root prominence. The thickness achieved was not different with various graft materials. Since gingival thickness has been identified as an important predictor of periodontal root coverage, the methodology described in the present study, along with the identification of predictors of outcome, has important therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study investigated the changes in the maxillary sinus floor and alveolar crest following extraction of maxillary molars. Pre- and postextraction cone beam computed tomography scans of 23 patients were analyzed. Paired-sample t tests compared pre- and postextraction measurements, and independent-sample t tests were utilized for intergroup comparisons. Pearson correlation was used to assess the association between the measured variables and the outcome measures. The mean alveolar bone height reduction was 3.42 ± 2.40 mm and the alveolar crest loss was 3.07 ± 2.53 mm. The maxillary sinus floor position shifted coronally by a mean of 0.47 ± 0.32 mm. Approximately 88% of postextraction changes in alveolar bone height were due to alveolar crest changes, compared to 12% due to changes in the sinus floor position. The results of this study challenge the commonly held concept of extensive postextraction maxillary sinus floor alterations leading to sinus pneumatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate marginal bone level (MBL) changes as the primary outcome of implants placed following healing of extraction sockets treated with ridge preservation, compared to implants placed following unassisted healing. A total of 268 patients (contributing 572 implants) treated from April 2005 to March 2013 were included in this retrospective study. Following estimation of the overall success rate of implants placed in the practice, 129 patients (contributing 222 implants) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria to be further evaluated. Of these, 78 patients (contributing 105 implants) received ridge preservation procedures, which entailed placement of anorganic bovine bone mineral covered with polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. The other 51 patients (contributing 117 implants), with healed sites without history of bone grafting, served as controls. Digital radiographs were taken at the time of implant placement and during follow-up visits. The mean follow-up period for ridge preservation sites was 33.6 months (range: 7.5 to 61.5 months) and for healed sites was 36.3 months (range: 6 to 91.2 months). The survival rate of implants in sites following healing of ridge preservation was 97.3%, compared to 98.5% in the nongrafted healed sites. The mean MBL changes during the observation period were 0.11 and 0.07 mm on the mesial and 0.06 and 0.06 mm on the distal aspects of the ridge preservation and healed sites, respectively (P > .05). The mean crestal bone remodeling during the observation period was 0.63 and 0.45 mm on the mesial and 0.48 and 0.12 mm on the distal aspects in the ridge preservation and healed sites, respectively (P < .05). The results of this study demonstrated stable MBL and survival of implants placed in sites following ridge preservation with xenograft as well as nongrafted healed sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 68 extraction sockets were grafted with anorganic bovine bone mineral and covered by dense polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. Quantitative analysis of three-dimensional microcomputed tomography imaging of core samples retrieved after a mean of 21.0 ± 14.2 weeks revealed 40.1% bone volume fraction (bone volume [BV]/total volume [TV]) and 12% residual graft. Evidence of de novo bone formation was observed in the form of discrete islands of newly formed bone in direct apposition to graft particles, separated from parent bone. Anterior sockets exhibited a significantly higher percentage of residual graft compared to premolar sockets (P = .05). The BV/TV and percentage of residual graft correlated well with histomorphometric analysis of the same sites, but not with implant outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]