Flap versus flapless alveolar ridge preservation: A clinical and histological single‐blinded, randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare a flapless technique of alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) to a flap technique to determine if preserving the periosteal blood supply would limit loss of crestal ridge width and height. Methods Twenty‐four patients were randomly assigned to receive ARP using either a flapless or flap technique. Sockets were grafted with demineralized bone matrix and mineralized particulate allograft then covered with a barrier in both groups. Re‐entry was performed at 4 months to obtain samples for histological analysis and subsequent implant placement. Results Ridge width of the flapless group at the crest decreased from 8.3 ± 1.3 mm to 7.0 ± 1.9 mm for a mean loss of 1.3 ± 0.9 mm ( p < 0.05), whereas the flap group decreased from 8.5 ± 1.5 mm to 7.5 ± 1.5 mm for a mean loss of 1.0 ± 1.1 mm ( p < 0.05). The mean midbuccal vertical change for the flap group was a loss of 0.9 ± 1.3 mm ( p < 0.05) versus 0.5 ± 0.9 mm ( p < 0.05) for the flapless group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Histologically, flapless ARP revealed more vital mineralized tissue (44 ± 10%) compared to the flap group ( p >0.05). In the flapless group, the occlusal soft tissue was significantly thicker than in the flap group at the 4‐month re‐entry ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Crestal ridge width, height, and percentage of vital mineralized bone following treatment with a flapless ARP technique, was not significantly different from a flap technique.