###### Abstract  
Background: Regenerative medicine in dentistry involves tissue engineering applications suitable for the unique oral environment. In this regard, advances in computer-aided technology have facilitated the creation of 3D scaffolds using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). This review aimed to investigate whether 3D-printed scaffolds can be effectively used to achieve ridge preservation and/or predictable vertical and horizontal bone augmentation, ensuring successful outcomes for dental implant placement. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Ovid) to identify relevant studies according to specific eligibility criteria, following the PRISMA guidelines. Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies, performed data extraction, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane tool for randomized clinical trials and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-randomized clinical trials. Results: The initial search yielded 419 articles, which were subsequently screened to remove duplicates. After evaluating 293 articles based on title and abstract, 10 studies remained for full-text assessment. Ultimately, only three studies met all the pre-established eligibility criteria. Conclusions: The studies included in this systematic review showed that the use of multidimensional customized scaffolds appears to promote dental implant placement. Nevertheless, despite the positive reported effects, further well-designed randomized clinical trials are necessary to determine the special characteristics of the optimal 3D-customized scaffold. 3D printing; scaffolds; dental implant; ridge preservation; bone augmentation +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
bone formation [3]. Furthermore, implant treatment apparently enhances the masticatory function and quality of life for dedentulous and partially dedentulous patients [3; 4]. Due to alveolar bone diversity and morphology, implants of varying dimensions have been fabricated in an attempt to manage this problem. However, the correct placement of dental implants can be more complex or even impossible in certain cases due to alveolar atrophy and extensive bone defects resulting from various reasons, such as tooth extraction and periodontal disease [5]. Following tooth extraction, a sequence of events arises regarding modeling and remodeling processes during socket healing. This chronic irreversible process leads to qualitative and quantitative changes at the dedentulous site and an almost 50% reduction of the alveolar ridge within the first 6 months [6]. In such conditions, setting the location of dental implants in the precise three-dimensional (3D) role is nearly impossible due to substantial adjustments in the vertical and horizontal bone dimensions, thus negatively affecting right prosthetic reconstruction [6]. Several techniques and bone grafting substances have been proposed to overcome this problem by increasing the width and height of the atrophic alveolar ridge. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a well-established method among these approaches [7; 8; 9; 10]. Onlay/inlay bone grafting [11; 12], distraction osteogenesis [12], and nerve transposition have also been proposed. Although it has been shown that augmentation of the alveolar ridge following most of these distinctive techniques is feasible, the chance of complications or potential loss of the bone grafting material is always possible [13]. While various substitutes for bone grafting in ridge augmentation are now available, including allosteric, xenogenic, or synthetic substances [14], autografts remain widely recognized as the \"gold standard\" in oral and maxillofacial surgical treatment for bone augmentation [15]. This preference is attributed to their osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive properties. Nevertheless, challenges such as site morbidity and limited availability persist [16].