Evaluation of implant placement following ridge preservation in periodontally compromised molar extraction sockets: Three‐year results of a prospective cohort study

Abstract Objective To investigate the 3‐year implant‐related outcomes following alveolar ridge preservation in periodontally compromised molar sockets. Material and methods Thirty implants were placed in 26 patients following either ridge preservation (test, n = 16) or natural healing (control, n = 14) at deficient molar extraction sites after a 6‐month healing period. The need for additional augmentation procedures at implant placement was recorded. Patients were assessed for 3 years following a definitive restoration. Patient information being collected included modified plaque index, the modified sulcus bleeding index, the peri‐implant probing depth clinically, and alterations of marginal bone level (MBL) radiographically. Results There was a 100% survival rate of implants in both groups after 3‐year follow‐up. During implant placement operation, 35.7% in the control group and 6.3% in the test group required additional augmentation procedures. No statistically significant differences were determined for peri‐implant parameters and marginal bone levels between the two groups. The overall mean difference of MBL was 0.072 mm (95% CI [−0.279, 0.423]) during the 3 years of follow‐up. The success rate was 81.2% in the test and 78.6% in the control group. Conclusions Implants placed into periodontally compromised molar‐extracted sites after ridge augmentation resulted in comparable outcomes to implant placement at naturally healed sites after 3‐year functional loading. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR‐ONN‐16009433).