Natural bone healing in compromised sockets after tooth extraction.

This study aimed to evaluate new bone regeneration within infected extraction sockets with bone defects using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) at the 1-year follow-up and to evaluate the ability of bone regeneration after implant placement in a prosthetically-driven implant position. In this study, forty-eight patients requiring premolar or molar tooth extraction due to bone defects caused by periodontal diseases were included. Vertical and horizontal bone volume was assessed by overlapping the CBCT scan images with the full digital process. At 1-year post-extraction, a prosthetically-driven implant plan was conducted using virtual implant planning software. The result of this study showed that one year after extraction, CBCT revealed that the horizontal and vertical bone levels were significantly increased, with an overall mean buccolingual bone width gain of 5.46 ± 2.87 mm, and an overall mean vertical bone gain of 0.27 ± 1.28 mm for the lingual bone plate level and 3.50 ± 1.81 mm for the buccal bone plate level. Except for four (out of 48) sites, implants were virtually positioned in the center of the edentulous spaces. In summary, significant vertical and horizontal bone gain can occur within infected extraction sockets with bone defects 1 year after extracting premolar or molar teeth.