Preservation of the alveolar ridge at implant sites.

This case report describes an alternative surgical approach which can avoid the need for secondary regenerative techniques for ridge augmentation when planning treatment for dental implants. Our patient had a hopeless maxillary left central incisor, which was subsequently extracted in preparation for implant restoration. The site had a significant defect, which was treated at the time of extraction with a combination of a xenograft and a cortical chin graft. The goal was to preserve the residual ridge contour to avoid a compromise in implant fixture placement and maximize function and esthetics.