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This study was designed to assess the use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD; Emdogain, Straumann) and alloplastic bone substitute (BoneCeramic [BC], Straumann) in postextraction alveolar sockets. A total of 45 patients requiring anterior single tooth extractions and subsequent implant placement were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Postextraction sockets were filled with BC or BC + EMD, or were left to heal spontaneously. Tomographic dimensional changes were measured immediately following tooth extraction and at the 6-month follow-up. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were taken with a radiographic stent within 48 hours of extraction (CT1) and at 6 months (CT2). Paired comparisons related to the mean horizontal reduction of the vestibular crest (VC) showed significant differences between sockets left to heal spontaneously (Group 1) and the two groups filled with BC (Group 2) and BC + EMD (Group 3): 1.7 mm for Group 1 and 0.9 mm for Groups 2 and 3 (P < .05). Thus, the use of alloplastic bone substitute alone or with EMD resulted in better preservation of postextraction socket dimensions. No differences in socket preservation were found between Group 2 (BC) and Group 3 (BC + EMD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to assess the effect of enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain, Straumann) and alloplastic bone substitute (BoneCeramic, Straumann) on new bone formation in postextraction alveolar sockets. Twenty-one patients requiring anterior single-tooth extractions and subsequent implant placement were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Postextraction sockets were filled with either an alloplastic bone substitute (BoneCeramic [BC]), BC combined with Emdogain (EMD+BC), or left to heal spontaneously (SO). Histologic and histomorphometric analyses of the results were performed at 6 months postextraction. A significant increase in the percentage of new bone tissue area was found in EMD+BC compared to SO and BC groups. These findings demonstrate that compared with BC or SO, EMD+BC allowed for better formation of new bone in postextraction sockets after 6 months of healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to present a predictable method for evaluating dimensional changes in the alveolar ridge through cone beam computed tomography (CT). Twenty subjects with single-rooted tooth extraction indication were selected for this preliminary report, which is part of a larger ongoing investigation. After extraction, two CT scans were performed; the first within 24 hours post-extraction (TC1) and the second 6 months (TC2) later. A radiographic guide with a radiopaque element placed along the tooth axis was developed to locate the same plane of reference in two different CT scans. For each patient, backtrack analysis was performed in order to establish the reproducibility error of a predetermined point in space between two CT scans. Briefly, an anatomical landmark was selected and its coordinates to the radiopaque marker were recorded. One week later, the coordinates were followed backwards in the same CT scan to obtain the position where the reference point should be located. A similar process was carried out between two different CT scans taken 6 months apart. The distance between the anatomical reference and the obtained point of position was calculated to establish the accuracy of the method. Additionally, a novel method for evaluating dimensional changes of the alveolus after tooth extraction is presented. The backtrack analysis determined an average within-examiner discrepancy between both measurements from the same CT scan of 0.19 mm. SD +/- 0.05. With the method presented herein, a reference point in a CT scan can be accurately backtracked and located in a second CT scan taken six months later. Taken together they open the possibility of calculating dimensional changes that occur in the alveolar ridge over time, such as post-extraction alveolar resorption, or the bone volume gained after different augmentation procedures.