Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 single root teeth from the mandible of 32 patients (Male= 11 Female=21 mean aged 55.3±8.9 years; age range, 37–72 years) were extracted. Twenty teeth were directly treated with β-TCP material after extraction (in the ARP group). The other twenty teeth served as a control group. After extraction, no further treatment (i.e., no socket preservation measures) was performed in the control group. Changes in the height of alveolar process after three months of extraction and after six months were evaluated by means of cone-beam computed tomography CBCT.

Results: Both the ARP and control groups showed a reduction of bone height in the alveolar area after tooth extraction. However, significantly less bone height resorption was detected in the ARP group after three and six months compared to control group. The median bone height reduction after three months was 1.29±0.25 mm in the ARP group and 2.89±0.49 mm in the control group (P = 0.032). And the median bone height reduction after six months was 1.78±0.32 mm in the ARP group and 3.93±0.51 mm in the control group (P = 0.041).

Conclusions: The proposed hypothesis that inserting a β-TCP in the fresh socket after extraction would lead to a difference in alveolar bone preservation which could be accepted for the clinically relevant height. In this area, implantation of β-TCP material led to significantly less alveolar bone resorption.