title: Post-extraction mesio-distal gap reduction assessment by confocal laser scanning microscopy - a clinical 3-month follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this 3-month follow-up study is to quantify the reduction in the mesio-distal gap dimension (MDGD) that occurs after tooth extraction through image analysis of three-dimensional images obtained with the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following tooth extraction, impressions of 79 patients 1 month and 72 patients 3 months after tooth extraction were obtained. Cast models were processed by CLSM, and MDGD changes between time points were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean mesio-distal gap reduction 1 month after tooth extraction was 343.4 μm and 3 months after tooth extraction was 672.3 μm. The daily mean gap reduction rate during the first term (between baseline and 1 month post-extraction measurements) was 10.3 μm/day and during the second term (between 1 and 3 months) was 5.4 μm/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mesio-distal gap reduction is higher during the first month following the extraction and continues in time, but to a lesser extent. When the inter-dental contacts were absent, the mesio-distal gap reduction is lower. When a molar tooth is extracted or the distal tooth to the edentulous space does not occlude with an antagonist, the mesio-distal gap reduction is larger. The consideration of mesio-distal gap dimension changes can help improve dental treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Special Patient Unit, Department of Stomatology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ariadna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Herraiz
authors.affiliation: Special Patient Unit, Department of Stomatology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry and Corrosion Engineering, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9032-6909
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leiva-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Statistics and Operational Research and Quality, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crespo-Abril
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry and Corrosion Engineering, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0289-1324
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Antón
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: confocal laser scanning microscopy; mesio-distal distance; post-extraction changes; socket healing