Ridge Preservation Comparing a Flap Versus Flapless Technique

Twenty-four patients will randomly be assigned to receive ridge preservation using either flapless or flap technique. Twelve test patients will receive ridge preservation using a flapless approach and twelve control patients will receive ridge preservation using a flap technique. All sockets will be grafted with demineralized bone matrix and mineralized particulate allograft and covered with calcium sulfate barrier. Re-entry surgery will be performed at 4 months when a trephine core will be taken from the grafted site immediately prior to implant placement and submitted for histologic processing.

Inclusion criteria

• Have one non-molar tooth requiring extraction that will be replaced with a dental implant where at least one adjacent tooth is present
• Study subjects at least 18 years old
• Patients must sign an informed consent approved by the University of Louisville Human Studies Committee of Institutional Review Board.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with debilitating systemic disease, or a disease affects the periodontium
• Have an allergy to any material or medication used in the study
• Require prophylactic antibiotics
• Previous head and neck radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy in the previous 12 months
• Patients taking long term Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs or steroid therapy
• Smoked more than one pack of cigarettes per day