Introduction: Tooth loss is often followed by alveolar ridge resorption, which may compromise implant placement and long-term stability. Different implant site preparation techniques, such as conventional drilling, bone expansion, and ridge split procedures, are used to manage varying ridge conditions. These techniques may influence peri-implant bone remodeling in different ways. This study aimed to evaluate and compare crestal bone loss around dental implants placed using conventional drilling, bone expansion, and ridge split techniques. Materials and methods: This prospective clinical comparative study included 72 implant sites in patients aged 25-55 years who required implant-supported rehabilitation. The implant sites were divided into three groups based on the implant site preparation technique used: conventional drilling (CD), bone expansion (BE), and ridge split (RS), with 24 implants in each group. Crestal bone levels were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography immediately after implant placement and at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. Mesial and distal crestal bone loss were measured and analyzed statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post hoc test for intergroup comparisons and repeated-measures ANOVA for intragroup comparisons. Categorical variables were compared with the chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05). Conclusion: Implant site preparation techniques significantly influence peri-implant crestal bone remodeling. Conventional drilling demonstrated the least crestal bone loss, whereas ridge split procedures showed greater bone remodeling during the follow-up period.
Goyal et al. (Mon,) studied this question.