CURRENT PERSPECTIVES IN RESIDUAL RIDGE REMODELING AND ITS CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS - A REVIEW

Purpose. This article reviews the current understanding of the biology of tooth extraction wound healing and residual ridge remodeling. Meth ods. The review of the biology of tooth extraction wound healing invol ves a discussion of the different cells populating the tooth extractio n wound, the matrix formation, and the control of the repair process i n the short-term. Defects in socket matrix formation or cellular activ ity will lead to stalled healing. The review of residual ridge remodel ing describes the long-term result of tooth extraction and formation o f residual ridges, in which the quantity of bone tissue continuously d ecreases. This may suggest that any potential regulatory factors of re sidual ridge resorption should have an adverse effect either on the in creased catabolic activity by osteoclasts or on the decreased anabolic activity by osteoblasts. Both short-term tooth extraction healing and long-term residual ridge remodeling processes are interdependent. Fur thermore, any potential genetic and environmental regulatory factors c an affect the quality and quantity of bone by altering the gene expres sion events taking place in bone cells. Results. The intent of this ar ticle was to review the current progress of biologic research on resid ual ridge remodeling and to relate the changes at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. The understanding of residual ridge remodeling may provide a sound scientific basis for improved restorative and therape utic treatments of the edentulous population.