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 (Pontic Shield technique) helps preserve the jawbone and gum shape after removing a damaged front tooth. 56 adults were randomly assigned to standard extraction, extraction with a blood-based graft, the Pontic Shield alone, or the Pontic Shield plus graft. The main goal was to measure how much bone width was maintained over 4 months using 3D X-rays. Results will show if this technique offers better preservation than extraction alone.