Alveolar Buccal Bone Overbuilding Before Tooth Extraction: A Preclinical Study

Purpose: To evaluate the dimensional changes in the alveolar crest after buccal overbuilding was performed prior to tooth extraction in a dog model.

Materials and methods: At the test sites, alveolar crest overbuilding was performed on the buccal aspect of the distal root of the third premolar using xenograft covered with a collagen membrane. No treatment was applied at the control sites. After 3 months, the distal roots of both third premolars were extracted and implants were immediately placed into the alveolus, allowing nonsubmerged healing. After 3 months, biopsy samples were collected.

Results: Upon histologic analysis, no statistically significant differences in hard tissue dimensions were found. The buccal bone plate at the test sites presented a tendency for higher resorption compared to the control sites. However, if the contribution of the residue of biomaterial is considered, a higher volumetric gain was registered at the test than at the control sites.

Conclusions: The buccal overbuilding performed prior to tooth extraction did not contribute to the preservation of the alveolar crest dimensions after extraction. This could be due to failure to incorporate the graft into the newly formed bone.