The aim of this study is to investigate how a socket preservation procedure may reduce the need of guided bone regeneration surgery after tooth extraction and facilitate the placement of a dental implant in the optimal, prosthetic-driven position.

The main gol of the study is to assess the efficacy of a socket preservation procedure in reducing the need of additional surgeries in order to augment alveolar bone volume before placing a dental implant in optimal position. Bone volume at 6 months will be compared to initial volume in order to assess volume variations and how they affect the positioning of a prosthetically driven, implant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• at least 18 years of age

  • at least one intercalate tooth to be extracted, with complete alveolus and no soft tissue recession;
  • adequate oral hygiene, i.e. plaque index score ≤10%;
  • mesial-distal width of inter-dental space ≥7 mm;

Exclusion Criteria:

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥III
• presence of active periodontitis, clinically diagnosed in presence of probing depths ≥4 mm and bleeding on probing
• a history of radiotherapy to the head and neck region
• presence of conditions requiring chronic use of antibiotics
• medical conditions requiring prolonged use of steroids
• history of leucocyte dysfunction
• history of bleeding disorders
• history of renal failure
• patients with metabolic bone disorders
• patients with uncontrolled endocrine disorders
• disability affecting oral hygiene
• alcohol or drug abuse
• HIV infection
• smoking >10 cigarettes a day or cigar equivalents
• conditions or circumstances that would prevent completion of study participation
• mucosal diseases
• presence of osseous lesions
• severe bruxing or clenching habits
• persistent intraoral infections
• compromised alveolus (dehiscence, etc)