Tent-pole technique for alveolar ridge width preservation with a compromised buccal plate: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the tent-pole technique for alveolar ridge preservation of compromised alveolar socket following the surgical extraction of incurable single root premolars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 12 patients who presented to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery and had alveolar ridge preservation using tent-pole technique between August 2021 and February 2022. The alveolar ridge width was analyzed using cone beam computed tomography scans taken preoperative and 6 months postoperative. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the alveolar ridge width at different levels. The alveolar ridge width differences between periods were assessed with paired t-test. The comparison of alveolar ridge width loss according to jaw, sex, and different levels were done with unpaired t-test. The level of significance considered was 5% (α=0.05). RESULTS: The mean alveolar ridge width before surgery was 10.03 mm. After 6 months, the mean alveolar ridge width was 8.4 mm. The range of alveolar ridge width loss was between 0.6 and 3.22 mm with a mean of 1.63 (16.25%). There was no statistically significant difference in width loss between the maxilla and mandibular whether in males or females. Alveolar bone width loss was the greatest at W1 level (26.8%). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the authors conclude that the tent-pole technique could preserve the alveolar bone ridge width without bone graft materials.