الفهرس 
ENGLISH ABSTRACTOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 176 |  |  |
| | | from | 176 | | |
Abstract
Socket preservation has been recognized as an effective and predictable procedure to limit post-extraction dimensional changes of the alveolar bone and the overlying soft tissue. Sealing the sockets after bone grafting has been controversial in terms of materials and techniques used with common advantages and disadvantages. Socket sealing by laser photocoagulation is an alternative method to membranes and direct flap closure with less working time and tissue trauma.
This randomized controlled trial was the first to assess the efficacy of the 980nm diode laser photocoagulation in socket sealing and to compare it to a conventional sealing method with the non-resorbable dPTFE membrane.
The study population comprised thirty six patients with thirty six teeth indicated for extraction with intact buccal plate of bone. A pre-operative CBCT scan was performed for all partcipents for baseline measurements.After atraumatic extraction, socket degranulation and irrigation , demineralized bovine bone xenograft was packed into the sockets. For the laser group , a non-contact laser application with a non initiated tip and 1 watt power output was performed to coagulate the blood covering the graft particles to form a stable sealing blood clot.For the membrane group , a dPTFE membrane was trimmed to the size of the socket orifice and sutured to the soft tissue periphery without a flap elevation or release incisions.All patients were then recalled at the second , third and fourth weeks for the outcome assesment , then after 4 moonths for a CBCT radiographic examination of the bone and soft tissue measurements.
Soft tissue healing ,the primary objective of this study , was assesed after 2 , 3 and 4 weeks post-operatively using the Landry soft tissue healing index(169). Alveolar bone
90
dimensions and soft tissue height were the secondary objectives and were measured on the pre and post-operative CBCT scans.
The healing index scores showed significant difference between both groups with better healing scores recorded in the laser group. The soft tissue thickness increased in both groups with no significant difference between their mean values. Finally, alveolar bone vertical and horizontal dimensional changes occured comparably in both groups with no significant difference between them.