Dimensional ridge changes in conjunction with four implant timing protocols and two types of soft tissue grafts: A pilot pre‐clinical study

AIM: To determine the effect of (1) implant placement timing and (2) the type of soft tissue graft in terms of ridge profile changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four implant treatment modalities were applied in the mesial root areas of the third and fourth mandibular premolars of 10 mongrel dogs alongside connective-tissue graft (CTG) and volume-stable cross-linked collagen matrix (VCMX): immediate, early, and delayed placement (DP), and DP following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP). All dogs were sacrificed 3 months after soft tissue augmentation. Standard Tessellation Language files from designated time points were analysed. RESULTS: Compared with the pre-extraction situation, the median width of the ridge demontstrated a linear increase only in group ARP/CTG (0.07 mm at the 2-mm level), whereas all other groups showed a reduction (between -1.87 and -0.09 mm, p > .05). Groups ARP/CTG (0.17 mm) and DP/CTG (0.05 mm) exhibited a profilometric tissue gain in a set region of interest (p > .05). The net effect of CTG and VCMX ranged from 0.14 to 0.79 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Dimensional ridge changes varied between treatment protocols. ARP with CTG led to the smallest difference in ridge profile between the pre-extraction and the study end time point. Both CTG and VCMX enhanced the ridge contour.