The potential benefit of socket preservation therapies was demonstrated result ing in significantly less vertical and horizontal contraction of the alveolar bone crest .
The scientific evidence does not provide clear guidelines in regards to the type of bio material , or surgical procedure , although a significant positive effect of the flapped surgery was observed .
There are no data available to draw conclusions on the consequences of such benefits on the long-term outcomes of implant therapy
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to evaluate the scientific evidence on the efficacy in the surgical protocol s design ed for preserving the alveolar ridge after tooth extraction and to evaluate how these techniques affect the placement of dental implants and the final implant supported restoration .
Ridge alterations following tooth extraction with and without flap elevation: an experimental study in the dog.
BACKGROUND Different approaches were advocated to preserve or improve the dimension and contour of the ridge following  tooth extraction .  In some of studies , socket ' flapless extraction ' apparently had a successful outcome . AIM The objective of the present experiment was to compare hard tissue healing following tooth extraction with or without the prior elevation of mucosal full-thickness flaps . MATERIAL AND METHODS Five mongrel dogs were used . The two second m and ibular premolars ( (2)P(2 ) ) were hemi-sected . The mesial roots were retained . By r and om selection the distal root in one side was removed after the elevation of full-thickness flaps while on the contralateral side , root extraction was performed in a flapless procedure . The soft tissue wound was closed with interrupted sutures . After 6 months of healing , the dogs were euthanized and biopsies were sample d. From each experimental site , four ground sections - two from the mesial root and two from the healed socket - were prepared , stained and examined in the microscope . RESULTS The data showed that the removal of a single tooth ( root ) during healing caused a marked change in the edentulous ridge . In the apical and middle portions of the socket site minor dimensional alterations occurred while in the coronal portion of the ridge the reduction of the hard tissue volume was substantial . Similar amounts of hard tissue loss occurred during healing irrespective of the procedure used to remove the tooth was , i.e. flapless or following flap elevation . CONCLUSION Tooth loss ( extraction ) result ed in marked alterations of the ridge . The size of the alveolar process was reduced . The procedure used for tooth extraction - flapless or following flap elevation - apparently did not influence the more long-term outcome of healing
The potential benefit of socket preservation therapies was demonstrated result ing in significantly less vertical and horizontal contraction of the alveolar bone crest .
The scientific evidence does not provide clear guidelines in regards to the type of bio material , or surgical procedure , although a significant positive effect of the flapped surgery was observed .
There are no data available to draw conclusions on the consequences of such benefits on the long-term outcomes of implant therapy
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to evaluate the scientific evidence on the efficacy in the surgical protocol s design ed for preserving the alveolar ridge after tooth extraction and to evaluate how these techniques affect the placement of dental implants and the final implant supported restoration .