Histological and radiographic evaluation of bone formation following alveolar ridge preservation using octacalcium phosphate collagen composite: A prospective non-randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: To radiographically and histologically evaluate bone formation following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) using octacalcium phosphate collagen composite (OCP/Col). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 patients (48 sites) completed the study. The primary comparison was performed between an OCP/Col-treated molar group (OCP-M) and an atelocollagen-treated molar control group (Control-M). In addition, an OCP/Col-treated incisor-premolar group (OCP-IP) was included as an exploratory subgroup to assess tooth-type effects. Alveolar bone dimensional changes were assessed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) immediately after ARP and at 6 months. Guided hard tissue biopsies were performed to quantify the proportions of mature bone and residual granules. RESULTS: Changes in buccal bone height were + 0.7 mm (± 2.2) in the OCP-M group, - 0.6 mm (± 0.7) in the Control-M group, and + 3.7 mm (± 3.9) in the OCP-IP group. The difference between the OCP-M and Control-M groups was significant (p = 0.041), as was that between the OCP-IP and OCP-M groups (p = 0.038). Histologically, the proportion of mature bone in the alveolar crest region was significantly higher in the OCP-M group (38.14% ± 20.96) than in the Control-M group (18.28% ± 16.52, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, ARP using OCP/Col resulted in increased buccal bone height and enhanced bone maturation at the alveolar crest compared with atelocollagen alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: OCP/Col may serve as a stand-alone graft material for ARP and may facilitate minimally invasive, prosthetically driven implant therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000059637 (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry).