Alveolar dimensional changes relevant to implant placement after minimally traumatic tooth extraction with primary closure

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dimensional changes that occur in the alveolar ridge after minimally traumatic tooth extraction by means of computed tomography (CT), with special focus on the portion of bone supporting the gingival zenith. Twenty subjects with indication for singlerooted tooth extraction and preserved alveolar walls were selected for this study. After a minimally traumatic extraction, two CT scans were performed; the first within 24 hours postextraction (TC1) and the second 6 months (TC2) later. A radiographic guide with a radiopaque marker was used to obtain references that enabled accurate measurements over time, in both vertical and horizontal directions. The bone crest immediately apical to the gingival zenith was identified and termed "osseous zenith". The displacement of the osseous zenith in horizontal and vertical direction was analyzed and correlated with several alveolar anatomical variables with the aim of identifying possible predictors for bone remodeling. Dimensional changes that occur in postextraction sockets within a 6month period showed significant vertical and horizontal displacement of the osseous zenith (p<0.001). Mean vertical resorption was 2.1 ± 1.7 mm, with a median of 1.9 mm and a range of 0.2 to 7.5 mm. Mean horizontal resorption was 1.8 ± 0.8 mm with a median of 1.7 mm and a range of 0.6 to 4.4 mm. However, no correlation was found between the width of the facial alveolar crest and the displacement of the osseous zenith. The results of the present study showed that if the width of the facial crest at the apicalcoronal midpoint is less than 0.7 mm, a high degree of displacement of the osseous zenith (> 3 mm) should be expected. The present study suggests that the width of the alveolar crest at its midlevel, rather than crestal width, may be correlated with the displacement of the osseous zenith.