Ridge Preservation Comparing a Flap Versus Flapless Technique

To compare a flapless technique of alveolar ridge preservation to a flap technique to determine if preserving the periosteal blood supply would prevent loss of crestal ridge width and height.

Twenty-four patients will randomly be assigned to receive ridge preservation using either flapless or flap technique. Twelve test patients will receive ridge preservation using a flapless approach and twelve control patients will receive ridge preservation using a flap technique. All sockets will be grafted with demineralized bone matrix and mineralized particulate allograft and covered with calcium sulfate barrier. Re-entry surgery will be performed at 4 months when a trephine core will be taken from the grafted site immediately prior to implant placement and submitted for histologic processing.