Comparison of Autogenous Tooth Graft With Polylactic Co-Glycolic Acid in Postextraction Socket for Alveolar Ridge Preservation: A Randomized Control Trial.

Abstract

Background: Preservation of alveolar ridge is required postextraction of tooth. Traditional bone graft materials such as autografts, allografts, xenografts, and alloplasts have been used for this purpose.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure and compare clinical and radiographic parameters of autogenous tooth graft (ATG) versus resorbable bioscaffold polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) for alveolar ridge preservation.

Study design, setting, and sample: A prospective randomized controlled double-blind trial was conducted on patients who reported to our Department from 2019 to 2022 for the extraction of endodontically or periodontically compromised single rooted teeth. Patients with age >60 years, pregnant or lactating females, those with systemic and autoimmune diseases, parafunctional habits, history of tobacco or alcohol, and those on radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the last 12 months were excluded.

Predictor variables: The predictor variable was the alveolar ridge preservation techniques and the subjects were randomly assigned to autogenous tooth grafting (ATG) and PLGA group.

Main outcome variables: Main outcome variables were clinical and radiographic dimensions of alveolar ridge on postoperative day 1 and 6 months after grafting. The secondary outcomes were complications.

Covariates: The demographic details were age and gender.

Analyses: Bivariate analyses were performed using the parametric tests, ie, paired t-test and independent t-test for intragroup and intergroup comparison respectively, with level of statistical significance set at P value ≤ .05.

Results: The study sample was composed of 20 subjects with a mean age of 47.40 ± 13.94 years. 45% (n = 9) were males and 55% (n = 11) females. On comparing bone levels, we found statistically significant difference in the horizontal dimension in the apical third between the 2 groups after 6 months of grafting (P = .01). There was also a statistically significant increase in the dimensions of alveolar ridge from baseline to 6 months in both the groups. No complications like wound dehiscence or presence of pus discharge were observed in Group A, while there was failure of regeneration in 2 patients in Group B.

Conclusion and relevance: The results suggest that ATG may be better than PLGA for socket grafting due to lower risk of complications.