Labial soft tissue volume evaluation of different techniques for ridge preservation after tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Objective To volumetrically evaluate soft tissue changes of different ridge preservation techniques compared to spontaneous healing 6months after tooth extraction. Materials and Methods In each of 40 patients, one single-rooted tooth was extracted and four treatment modalities were randomly assigned to the following groups (n=10 each): A) ss-tricalcium-phosphate-particles with a polylactid coating (ss-TCP), B) demineralized bovine bone mineral with 10% collagen covered with a collagen matrix (DBBM-C/CM), C) DBBM with 10% collagen covered with an autogenous soft tissue punch graft (DBBM-C/PG), D) spontaneous healing (control). Impressions were obtained before extraction and 6months later, casts were digitized and volumetric changes at the buccal soft tissues were determined. One-way anova was performed and pair-wise Wilcoxon rank sum test with Bonferroni-Holm method was applied for comparison of differences between two groups. Results After 6months, horizontal contour changes accounted for -1.7 +/- 0.7mm (A), -1.2 +/- 0.5mm (B), -1.2 +/- 0.7mm (C) and -1.8 +/- 0.8mm (D). None of the group comparisons reached statistical significance. Conclusions Six months after tooth extraction all groups revealed a horizontal volume change in the buccal soft tissue contour. Application of DBBM-C/CM or DBBM-C/PG reduced the amount of volume resorption compared to ss-TCP or spontaneous healing without reaching statistically significant difference.