Radiographic texture analysis of the hard tissue changes following socket preservation with allograft and xenograft materials for dental implantation: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to assess the hard tissue changes following socket preservation with allograft and xenograft materials for dental implantation by texture analysis (TA) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: This prospective clinical trial was conducted on 25 patients who required the extraction of carious mandibular posterior teeth and their subsequent replacement with dental implants. The patients were categorized into three groups: (I) no socket preservation, (II) socket preservation with xenograft material, and (III) socket preservation with allograft material. Four months after tooth extraction, the patients were recalled for preoperative assessment before dental implantation, and CBCT scans were obtained. MaZda software was used to compare homogeneity, contrast, and texture complexity on axial CBCT sections among the three groups. Results: Significant differences existed among the three groups in all parameters (P<0.05) except for the mean correlation parameter (P>0.05). The results showed no significant difference between the no graft and xenograft groups regarding contrast and differential (dif.) entropy (P>0.05). Also, no significant difference was found between the xenograft and allograft groups regarding the dif. variance, and also between the no graft and allograft groups regarding the inverse difference moment(InvDfMom) and dif. variance parameters (P>0.05). All other pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion: TA can be used for quantification of radiographic changes of bone following socket preservation, and potentially accelerate the process of decision-making for dental implant treatment.