Background: Preservation of the alveolar process after tooth extraction is desirable because it facilitates placement of endosseous implants and minimizes adverse esthetic results associated with fixed partial dentures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of bioactive glass used as a graft material combined with calcium sulfate used in the form of a mechanical barrier in preserving alveolar ridges after tooth extraction.
Methods: Sixteen patients who required extraction of 2 anterior teeth or bicuspids participated in the study (split mouth design). After tooth extraction and elevation of a buccal full-thickness flap, experimental sockets were filled with bioactive glass, which in turn was covered with a layer of calcium sulfate. Control sites did not receive any graft or calcium sulfate. Titanium pins served as fixed reference points for measurements. No attempt was made to advance the flap to cover the socket areas on control or experimental sites (open socket approach). Reentry surgeries were performed at 6 months.
Results: Reentry surgeries showed that experimental sites presented with (1) significantly more internal socket bone fill (6.43 +/- 2.78 mm vs 4.00 +/- 2.33 mm on control sites), (2) less (although not statistically significantly less) resorption of alveolar bone height (0.38 +/- 3.18 mm vs 1.00 +/- 2. 25 mm on control sites), and (3) similar degree of horizontal resorption of the alveolar bony ridge as compared with controls (3. 48 +/- 2.68 mm vs 3.06 +/- 2.41 mm on control sites).
Conclusions: This study suggests that treatment of extraction sockets with a combination of bioactive glass and calcium sulfate is of some benefit in preserving alveolar ridge dimensions after tooth extraction.