Old is gold: keeping a tooth root may save your jawbone after extraction

This study tested whether leaving part of a tooth root in place after removing a damaged front tooth helps preserve the jawbone and gum shape. 56 adults were randomly assigned to standard extraction, extraction with a blood-based graft, the root-saving technique alone, or the root-saving technique plus the graft. Over 4 months, the researchers measured bone width and height changes using 3D X-rays to see which method best maintains the area for future dental work.