Aim

To compare the administration of hyaluronic acid (HA) gel to no gel administration following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in terms of changes in wound dimensions over time.

Materials and methods

Systemically healthy patients scheduled for ARP at one or two sites in the incisor, cuspid or premolar area with at least one neighboring tooth and > 50% buccal bone present following extraction, were included. ARP consisted of socket grafting with collagen-enriched deproteinized bovine bone mineral and socket sealing by means of a collagen matrix. Following surgical therapy, sites were randomly allocated to the control group (no gel application) or test group (0.8% HA gel applied onto the collagen matrix 3 times per day for 7 days). Bucco-lingual and mesio-distal wound dimensions were registered at T0 (immediately postop), T1 (1 week) and T2 (3 weeks). Patient-reported outcomes, clinical outcomes and hard and soft tissue changes were recorded up to 4 months (T3).

Results

In the control group 20 patients (7 males, 13 females; mean age 53.30) with 23 sites, and in the test group 18 patients (9 males, 9 females; mean age 52.56) with 23 sites were included. There were no significant differences between the groups in the changes in wound dimensions from T0 to T2 (bucco-lingual aspect: p = 0.340; mesio-distal aspect: p = 0.883). Three sites (13%) in the control group and 6 (26%) in the test group demonstrated complete wound resolution at T2 (p = 0.259). HA failed to show an effect on the number of analgesics taken (p = 0.175), patient-reported outcomes (p >= 0.263), alveolitis (p = 0.136), socket healing (p >= 0.424), soft tissue changes (p >= 0.064) and mucosal scarring (p = 0.548). However, significantly more horizontal bone loss at the coronal aspect was found in the test group (p <= 0.025).

Conclusion

HA failed to promote wound resolution onto a collagen matrix.