Utilization of biphasic calcium sulfate as socket preservation grafting as a prelude to implant placement, a case report
Extraction of the natural tooth may be a prelude to implant placement. This may be done using an immediate placement protocol or require a delayed approach depending on multiple factors that include; residual infection related to the failed tooth being extracted, availability of bone to stabilize the implant at placement or soft tissue issues. Socket preservation is recommended when the delayed approach is selected to create an osseous bed that can accommodate the implant that is planned. This also helps preserve what crestal bone remains following the extraction that may resorb in the absence of socket preservation during the extraction socket healing phase. The use of osseous graft materials and guided bone-regeneration has demonstrated enhancement of socket healing by potentially modifying the resorption process, yielding preservation of the crestal bone while limiting resorption potential during healing. Various graft materials have been reported including, allografts, xenografts, non-biologics and synthetics. Calcium sulfate as a graft material has been used for many decades in maxillofacial surgeries, plastic surgery, oncologic and orthopedics in the treatment of osseous voids, traumatic or inflammatory bone deficiencies. This article will review a case using biphasic calcium sulfate with a delayed implant protocol and the histology demonstrating conversion of the graft material to host bone following healing.