Alveolar ridge preservation using the One- Piece autologous tuberosity graft: a clinical, radiological and histological pilot study

Objective: This prospective study investigated clinically and radiologically the effectiveness of the use of a combined hard and soft tissue graft retrieved from the maxillary tuberosity and designed for alveolar ridge preservation following tooth extraction. Materials and methods: Seven patients scheduled for a single mono-rooted tooth extraction were included in the study. After atraumatic extraction, sockets were filled with a “one-piece” dual tissue graft harvested from the tuberosity using an adjusted trephine. CBCTs were performed before the extraction and four months after ridge preservation, to analyze the vertical and horizontal alterations of the ridge, using ITK-Snap software. Clinical measurements of both soft and hard tissues were also assessed during the extraction and implant placement. Results: All sites healed uneventfully. After 4 months, the 3D super-imposition of both CBCTs showed a mean bone volume resorption of 65 ± 76.7 mm3 (10.2 ± 10 % ). The mean horizontal reduction at 2, 4 and 6 mm from the top of the crest was respectively 1.5 ± 1.3 mm, 0.47 ± 1.4 mm and 0.57 ± 0.7 mm, while the mean vertical loss was 0.026 mm ± 2 mm. The mean soft tissue horizontal gain was 1.73 ± 1.12 mm. Conclusion: The “One-Piece” autologous tuberosity graft was proven to be a safe and effective alveolar ridge preservation technique and may represent a feasible, user-friendly, time saving, low- cost solution for minimising dimensional loss following tooth extraction