Yoichi Taniguchi
Sapporo, Japan

Clinical case description:
A Novel Surgical Procedure for a Laser-assisted Ridge Augmentation using Bovine Bone Mineral:
It is generally difficult to achieve favorable ridge augmentation in extraction sockets with buccal dehiscence without using a barrier membrane. In a recent clinical study, we reported that periodontal regenerative surgery applying a laser irradiation to form blood coagulation on the grafted bone surface resulted in sufficient bone regeneration in bone defects with buccal dehiscence (A novel surgical procedure for a laser-assisted periodontal regenerative therapy: Case Series. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent: Y.Taniguchi, A.Aoki, K.Sakai, K.Mizutani, W.Meinzer and Y.Izumi(in press)).
Four lower incisors in a patient were extracted due to vertical fracture and peri-apical periodontitis. After extraction, an implant-retained prosthesis was planned; however, the bone quantity after healing was anticipated to be insufficient for fixture placement. Therefore, A laser-assisted ridge augmentation was performed immediately after tooth extraction.
The novel procedure of a laser-assisted regenerative surgery in extraction sockets with thin buccal bone plate and dehiscence resulted in bone regeneration favorable and sufficient for fixture placement.