Ridge preservation comparing the clinical and histologic healing of a mineralized particulate allograft with a nonporous PTFE membrane vs. mineralized particulate xenograft with a collagen plug membrane

Aim. To compare two techniques of ridge preservation using a cancellous mineralized particulate xenograft plus a collagen plug to a cortical mineralized particulate allograft plus a PTFE membrane using ridge dimension data to assess the outcome.;Results. The mean horizontal ridge width at the crest of the Plug group decreased from 8.6 +/- 1.0 mm to 7.3 +/- 1.0 mm for a mean loss of -1.3 +/- 0.9 mm (p < 0.05) while the PTFE group decreased from 7.9 +/- 1.5 mm to 6.8 +/- 1.4 mm for a mean loss of -1.1 +/- 1.1 mm (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significance differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). The mean mid-buccal vertical change for the Plug group was a loss of -0.1 +/- 1.6 mm (p > 0.05) vs. a gain of 0.4 +/- 2.1 mm (p > 0.05) for the PTFE group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups for vertical change (p > 0.05). The Plug group demonstrated 28 +/- 20% vital bone, 37 +/- 16% non-vital bone, and 35 +/- 13% trabecular space. The PFTE group demonstrated 35 +/- 21% vital bone, 31 +/- 22% non-vital bone, and 34 +/- 10% trabecular space. There were no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05).;Conclusions. Mean crestal ridge width was preserved for both the Plug and PTFE groups and there were no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). There was a trend toward greater loss of mean mid-buccal ridge height for the Plug group, although there were no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). The mean CEJ to osseous crest distance showed only a minimal loss of 0.7 mm or less, with no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05).;Methods. Twenty-eight total patients were seen in the Graduate Periodontics Clinic at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Fourteen positive controls received a mineralized particulate xenograft (0.25 to 1.00 mm) covered by a collagen plug using a full-thickness flap technique (Plug group). Fourteen test patients received an intrasocket mineralized cortical particulate allograft (500 to 800 mum) covered with a nonporous PTFE membrane also using a full thickness flap technique (PTFE group). Following tooth extraction, horizontal ridge dimensions were measured with a digital caliper and vertical ridge dimensions were measured from a stent. Each site was re-entered for implant placement at about 4 months. Prior to implant placement, a 2.7 X 6 mm trephine core was obtained and preserved in formalin for histologic analysis.