Alveolar ridge preservation following tooth extraction – basic concepts

After tooth extraction due different clinical situations, there are some physiological changes that include volumetric resorption of the bone, leading to changes in the dimensions and contours of the alveolar ridge that can negatively impact the aesthetic outcome of an implant or of a conventional prosthetic rehabilitation. In order to prevent and minimize adverse consequences from such dimensional changes, the present review aims to present some fundamental basis regarding alveolar ridge preservation and biomaterials used to prevent bone resorption.