Alveoloplasty - Prevalence and Prerequisites: Prosthetic Point Of View

Complete denture construction is one of the most commonly performed procedures in a dental setting. Prior to complete dentures it is important to assess the ridge contour for the presence of any bony prominences, spicules or flabby tissues. Alveoloplasty is a procedure of pre-prosthetic mouth preparation that is aimed at the removal of such irregular ridge contours. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of cases requiring alveoloplasty and the timing of alveoplasty before complete denture construction. The retrospective study involved analysis of case records of patients who underwent alveoloplasty prior to complete denture construction and assessment based on following parameters: age, gender, timing and arch of alveoloplasty. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 20.0. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency and percentage and associations were tested using Chi-square test. The sample size of the study was 100. Prevalence of Alveoloplasty procedures was 26.6% with a male predilection [53%]. Delayed alveoloplasty was the most prevalent [83%] and the association between gender and timing of alveoloplasty was statistically not significant [Chi-square test, p>0.05]. There is a high need for immediate alveoloplasty procedures post extraction to avoid multiple surgical visits.