Predictors of Alveolar Process Remodeling Following Ridge Preservation in High-Risk Patients.

Purpose: (1) To clinically evaluate horizontal remodeling of the alveolar process (hard and soft tissues) following ridge preservation in high-risk patients and (2) to identify predictors of such remodeling.

Materials And Methods: Periodontally healthy nonsmoking patients with a failing tooth in the anterior maxilla (15-25) were selected for a prospective case series. All were in need of a single implant and demonstrated high risk for aesthetic complications given an incomplete buccal bone wall and/or thin-scalloped gingival biotype. Following flapless tooth extraction, ridge preservation was performed using one or more collagen-enriched, bovine-derived block grafts (Geistlich Bio-Oss® Collagen® 100 mg, Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) without the additional use of membranes or soft tissue grafts. The change in buccopalatal dimension of the alveolar process between baseline (prior to tooth extraction) and 4 months was assessed on the basis of superimposed occlusal slides. Regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of alveolar process remodeling.

Results: Forty-two patients (21 females, 21 males; mean age 38) met the selection criteria and consented to the treatment. Mean alveolar process remodeling was 14% (SD 7, range 4-30) with minimal remodeling (≤ 10%) in 16 patients (38%) and advanced remodeling (>20%) in 10 patients (24%). A single implant could be installed in all subjects without additional guided bone regeneration. Connective tissue grafting was performed later on in the treatment for aesthetic purposes, hereby compensating for tissue loss at the buccal aspect. Predictors of alveolar process remodeling were tooth location (central incisors and cuspids > laterals incisors and premolars), tooth abscess (p = .025), and buccal bone loss (p = .035).

Conclusion: Alveolar process remodeling seems inevitable yet acceptable following ridge preservation in high-risk patients. Proper case selection may reduce the incidence of advanced remodeling.