Figure 50. Buccal wall
The margin of the buccal wall is shifted apically by approximately 2 mm over the 8 weeks of healing, as indicated by the yellow arrow. Bone loss is greater in the buccal wall than in the lingual wall during socket healing for several reasons. First, the crestal portion of the buccal bone wall, especially in the anterior region, is occupied by bundle bone. As mentioned e...
Figure 49. Dimensional ridge alternation : 8 weeks
At 8 weeks after tooth extraction, the entrance to the extraction site is bridged with cortical bone. The woven bone in the socket is replaced with bone marrow and some trabeculae of lamellar bone. At the crests of the buccal and lingual cortical plates, there are signs of ongoing bone resorption.
Figure 48. Dimensional ridge alterations: 4 weeks
At 4 weeks after tooth extraction, the socket is filled with woven bone. Osteoclasts are present on the outer surfaces at the margin of the buccal and lingual walls, signaling resorption of cortical plates. The resorption of the bundle bone is almost complete. Osteoclasts also line the trabeculae of woven bone present in the central and latera...
Figure 47. Dimensional ridge alterations: 2 weeks
At 2 weeks after tooth extraction, the apical and lateral parts of the socket are filled with woven bone, while the central and marginal portions of the socket are occupied by provisional connective tissue. On the inner and outer surfaces of the socket walls, numerous osteoclasts can be seen. In several areas of the socket wall, the bundle bon...
Figure 46. Dimensional ridge alterations in 1 week
Araujo and Lindhe described the edentulous ridge profile alterations following tooth extraction in an experimental study in a dog model. During the first week of post-extraction healing, the socket area is occupied by coagulum and granulation tissue. A large number of osteoclasts are seen on the outer as well as on the inner s...