Ridge Preservation in Extraction Sockets of Periodontally Compromised Molars With and Without Primary Wound Closure: Histological and 1-Year Implant Outcomes of a Clinical Trial.

Objective: To compare the histological outcomes and 1 year implant treatment outcomes following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in extraction sockets of periodontally compromised molars with and without primary wound closure.

Material and methods: Patients requiring molar extraction owing to severe periodontitis were allocated to one of the following groups: (1) ARP with primary wound closure (control group), and (2) ARP with minimally invasive open healing (test group). Six months after ridge preservation, trephine cores were harvested for histologic and histomorphometric analysis. Implants were then placed, and implant stability was measured immediately as well as 6 months after placement. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed after the final crown insertion and again at 1 year post-procedure.

Results: Thirty-nine patients (39 implants) completed the study. Histomorphometrically, based on 30 participants, the percentage of newly formed bone was 33.7% ± 16.0% and 30.5% ± 14.4% in control and test groups, respectively. Control and test groups showed no significant differences in primary and secondary implant stabilities. No statistically significant differences in any of the clinical measurements were detected between the two groups (p > 0.05). Marginal bone levels remained stable with minimal changes from crown placement to 1 year, measuring 0.32 ± 0.57 mm for the control group and 0.23 ± 0.31 mm for the test group. The survival rates of the implants were 100% in both groups at 1-year post-loading.

Conclusions: ARP with/without primary wound closure resulted in no significant differences in new bone formation and 1 year implant treatment outcomes.

Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-ONN-16009433).