Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Dentistry

Background and objective: Socket preservation is a bone regeneration procedure indicated immediately following tooth extraction to preserve existing alveolar ridge height and to control alveolar ridge width. Primary wound closure following socket preservation is not indicated since it is a flapless procedure and wound edges cannot be proximated to close the bone graft through suturing. Instead, a collagen plug and/or a resorbable membrane is generally used to stabilize bone graft and seal the orifice of the socket. The purpose of this approach is to allocate time for soft tissue granulation and complete epithelization. To our knowledge the indications for these two types of biomaterials are not well-established and there are no clinical studies in the literature comparing clinical outcomes in relation to the use of these wound management approaches. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the early clinical outcomes following socket preservation procedures performed by using collagen plug (CP) or collagen membrane (CM) as a sealing material. In addition, soft tissue phenotype was evaluated as a variable possibly affecting clinical healing outcomes. Material and Methods: Patients who need single tooth extraction (surrounded with mesial and distal intact teeth) and socket preservation procedures for a future implant placement procedure were recruited (IRB protocol #2022H0277). Impressions (digital) were obtained prior to surgery and at 3-6 months to study ridge dimensional changes. Soft tissue phenotype was determined prior to extraction by probing and buccal tissue thickness was determined by using a surgical caliper. Buccal bone integrity was determined by probing immediately after extraction. FDBA was used as bone graft material. Decision to use a collagen plug or collagen membrane was clinician's choice based on the case and site anatomy. The membrane and plug were stabilized via simple interrupted and cross matrix suture using a resorbab (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Binnaz Leblebicioglu (Advisor); Guo-Liang Cheng (Committee Member); Hanin Hammoudeh (Committee Member); Luiz Meirelles (Committee Member) Subjects: Dentistry