Trabecular bone microstructure and mineral density in human residual ridge at various intervals over a long period after tooth extraction.

BACKGROUND: Long-term changes of trabecular microstructure in human tooth extraction socket have not been investigated.

PURPOSE: To examine the trabecular microstructure of human residual ridges at various intervals following tooth extraction, and to determine whether bone remodeling activity can attain points of relative stability and when such points are reached.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four bone biopsy specimens were obtained from lower molar or premolar regions of residual ridges. Postextraction times ranged from 1.6 to 360 months. Samples were analyzed using micro-computed tomography and three-dimensional bone morphometry with histological analyses. Trabecular bone parameters were plotted against postextraction times, and a stepwise piecewise linear regression analysis was performed to determine at which points of time these parameters either increased or decreased.

RESULTS: Using piecewise linear regression, "inflection points" were found in most trabecular bone parameters between 7 and 12 months postextraction. Among the residual ridge samples, woven trabecular structure became mature, consisting of thick lamellar trabeculae with sufficient bone density, under dynamic bone remodeling until the 7th to 12th month post-tooth extraction. After this period, the mature network structure remained stable with low remodeling activity.

CONCLUSION: Bone remodeling of trabecular structure in human residual ridge after tooth extraction had a stabilization period.