title: Alveolar ridge preservation using autogenous tooth graft versus beta-tricalcium phosphate alloplast: A randomized, controlled, prospective, clinical pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A randomized, prospective clinical, radiographical, and histological study was conducted to evaluate healing after alveolar ridge preservation technique using two different graft materials, namely, a novel autogenous graft material i. e., autogenous tooth graft (ATG) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) alloplast.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients undergoing extraction of at least three teeth were selected. Atraumatic extractions were performed. Of the three extraction sockets, one was grafted with ATG, other with β-TCP, and the third was left ungrafted. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were taken immediately after grafting and 4 months postoperatively to check the changes in alveolar crest height and width at all the sites. Three patients in whom implant placement was done after complete healing; bone samples were harvested using a 3 mm diameter trephine during osteotomy preparation from both the ridge preserved sites and studied histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference when the changes in width and height of alveolar crest were compared within all the three groups (P< 0.05). Among three sites, ATG-grafted sites showed the most superior results with a minimal reduction in alveolar crest height and width. Histological analysis also showed the same trend with more new bone formation at ATG-grafted sites as compared to β-TCP-grafted sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postextraction, ridge preservation leads to more predictable maintenance of alveolar ridge height and width. ATG as compared to β-TCP provided superior results. Based on this, we conclude that ATG material can serve as a better alternative to conventional bone graft materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, MGV's KBH Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Chaitanya Pradeep
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, MGV's KBH Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Nitin Hemchandra
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Dani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, MGV's KBH Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Smita Uday
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Khedkar
keywords: Bone graft(s); bone regeneration; imaging; ridge preservation