Preimplantation filling of tooth socket with beta-tricalcium phosphate/polylactic-polyglycolic acid (beta-TCP/PLGA) root analogue: clinical and histological analysis in a patient.

INTRODUCTION: Bone resorption is a physiological process after tooth extraction. The use of bone substitutes to fill the tooth socket is suggested to prevent bone resorption and establish good bone architecture for implant placement. A pure beta-tricalcium phosphate coated with copolymer (polylactic-polyglycolic acid) as a root analogue, is suitable for filling tooth sockets.

CASE REPORT: We presented a patient successfully treated with root analogue after extraction of the right second lower premolar. Three months later, the patient was planned for the placement of six TE ITI dental implants into the mandible. During the sugery, the biopsy of bone-like tissue from the previously treated socket was taken. All the implants were immediately loaded due to good primary stability. Histological analysis of the specimen revealed fibrous healing in the area treated with root analogue.

CONCLUSION: The use of beta-tricalcium phosphate coated with copolymers after tooth extraction enables satisfactory bone architecture for consequent implant treatment.