AN INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE IN RIDGE RECONSTRUCTION: A PILOT STUDY WITH HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Aim Space provision is one of the main problems in alveolar ridge reconstruction. The goal is to create and maintain a secluded space where the blood clot may be established and stabilized. This defines the maximum bone volume that can be regenerated. The present study presents a novel technique to manage non-space making alveolar defects due to advanced periodontitis by using resorbable polydioxanone sutures as space-making device. Material and Methods Three patients, aged from 50 to 65 years with severe chronic periodontitis and requiring extraction of at least one anterior tooth were consecutively enrolled. The same surgical protocol was applied to every patient at the completion of the etiological treatment. At the time of teeth extraction a flap was elevated, and the sockets were debrided. Four holes were made on the socket walls to secure the polydioxanone sutures and to form a cage to support soft tissues. The flap was placed at the presurgical position and the obtained space filled by blood clot. No grafting material was used. The site healed by secondary intention. After 6 months a complete clinical evaluation was made together with CT scan and biopsy for histological analysis. Results The healing was uneventful. The X-ray images showed complete remineralization and bone volume augmentation at the treated sites. Histologically, new bone formation, complete polydioxanone readsorption and absence of inflammatory infiltrate were observed. Conclusion These promising findings may represent the basis for future research on ridge recostruction without the use of grafting materials.