Tricalcium phosphate ceramic as immediate root implants for the maintenance of alveolar bone in partially edentulous mandibular jaws. A clinical study.

This study was undertaken to probe the efficacy of tricalcium phosphate ceramic (TCP) as an immediate root implant in the maintenance of alveolar bone. Three patients had five TCP root implants placed in fresh extraction sockets with soft tissue closure. The control and implant areas were evaluated at the 20th and 78th week on the basis of radiographic and clinical measurements. Tricalcium phosphate ceramic root implants in extraction sockets produced a significant increase in height and width of alveolar bone compared with control sites. It is believed that this method is a more effective and efficient procedure to preserve alveolar bone for the retention of dentures than other methods.