title: Alveolar bone dimensional changes of post-extraction sockets in humans: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature to assess the amount of change in height and width of the residual ridge after tooth extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE-PubMed and the Cochrane Central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL) were searched through up to March 2009. Appropriate studies which data reported concerning the dimensional changes in alveolar height and width after tooth extraction were included. Approximal height change, mid-buccal change, mid-crestal change, mid-lingual change, Alveolar width change and socket fill were selected as outcome variables. Mean values and if available standard deviations were extracted. Weighted mean changes were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent screening of the titles and abstracts of 1244 MEDLINE-PubMed and 106 Cochrane papers resulted in 12 publications that met the eligibility criteria. The reduction in width of the alveolar ridges was 3.87 mm. The mean clinical mid-buccal height loss was 1.67 mm. The mean crestal height change as assessed on the radiographs was 1.53 mm. Socket fill in height as measured relative to the original socket floor was on an average 2.57 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the post-extraction healing period, the weighted mean changes as based on the data derived from the individual selected studies show the clinical loss in width to be greater than the loss in height, assessed both clinically as well as radiographically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ga.vd.weijden@acta.nl
authors.forename: Fridus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van der Weijden
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dell'Acqua
authors.forename: Dagmar Else
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Slot
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery*