Hard and Soft Tissue Dimensional Change After Consecutive Extractions and Unassisted Socket Healing in the Esthetic Zone

Hard and Soft Tissue Dimensional Change After Consecutive Extractions and Unassisted Socket Healing in the Esthetic Zone: A Pilot Study

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the post-extraction hard and soft tissue dimension changes in patients requiring consecutive extractions and unassisted socket healing in the anterior maxilla. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is significant alveolar ridge resorption observed at center sites after consecutive extractions
• Is significant alveolar ridge resorption observed at the interalveolar septum after consecutive extractions, are different extraction sites associated with significantly different bone resorption
• Is a thick or thin wall phenotype associated with the amount of bone resorption
• Is soft tissue thickness change associated with the corresponding location (extraction site or interalveolar septum) and post-extraction thickness of the bone
• Is the interdental papilla height significantly affected after extractions.

Participants will undergo consecutive (two) extractions and will be evaluated after subsequent unassisted socket healing for 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18+ years old
• Require consecutive (two) teeth replacement in the anterior maxilla
• Signed informed consent
• No significant medical conditions
• Patients with healthy periodontal conditions or previously treated to controlled and stable conditions

Exclusion Criteria:

• General medical (American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA, class III or IV) and/or psychiatric contraindications
• Pregnancy or nursing
• Any interfering medication such as steroid therapy or bisphosphonate therapy
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Autoimmune diseases or inflammatory diseases affecting the intraoral tissues
• Radiation therapy to head or neck region