Three-dimensional assessment of the extraction sockets, augmented with platelet-rich fibrin and calcium sulfate: A clinical pilot study.

Objectives: This clinical study assessed and compared the linear and volumetric changes of extraction sockets grafted with a combination of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Calcium Sulfate (CS) (PRF-CS), and extraction sockets grafted with a combination of PRF and xenograft (X) (PRF-X).

Methods: Five single maxillary premolar extraction sockets received PRF-CS grafts and five single maxillary premolar sockets received PRF-X grafts. Linear (horizontal and vertical) measurements were accomplished using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images and volumetric changes were assessed using MIMICS software. Soft tissue level changes were measured using Stonecast models. All measurements were recorded at baseline (before extraction) and at 5-months post-extraction.

Results: Significant reduction in vertical and horizontal dimensions were observed in both groups except for distal bone height (DH = 0.44 ± 0.45 mm, p = 0.09) and palatal bone height (PH = 0.39 ± 0.34 mm, p = 0.06) in PRF-X group. PRF-CS group demonstrated mean horizontal shrinkage of 1.27 ± 0.82 mm (p = 0.02), when compared with PRF-X group (1.40 ± 0.85 mm, p = 0.02). Vertical resorption for mesial bone height (MH = 0.56 ± 0.25 mm, p = 0.008), buccal bone height (BH = 1.62 ± 0.91 mm, p = 0.01) and palatal bone height (PH = 1.39 ± 0.87 mm, p = 0.02) in PRF-CS group was more than resorption in PRF-X group (MH = 0.28 ± 0.14 mm, p = 0.01, BH = 0.63 ± 0.39 mm, p = 0.02 and PH = 0.39 ± 0.34 mm, p = 0.06). Volumetric bone resorption was significant within both groups (PRF-CS = 168.33 ± 63.68 mm, p = 0.004; PRF-X = 102.88 ± 32.93 mm, p = 0.002), though not significant (p = 0.08) when compared between groups. In PRF-X group, the distal soft tissue level (DH = 1.00 ± 0.50 mm, p = 0.03) demonstrated almost 2 times more reduction when compared with PRF-CS group (DH = 1.00 ± 1.00 mm, 0.08). The reduction of the buccal soft tissue level was pronounced in PRF-CS group (BH = 2.00 ± 2.00 mm, p = 0.06) when compared with PRF-X group (BH = 1.00 ± 1.50 mm, p = 0.05).

Conclusions: PRF-CS grafted sites showed no significant difference with PRF-X grafted sites in linear and volumetric dimensional changes and might show clinical benefits for socket augmentation. The study is officially registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Registration (NCT03851289).