Approximately how much alveolar bone volume is lost within the first year following extraction of a maxillary central incisor (tooth #8)?

Research demonstrates that significant alveolar ridge resorption occurs following tooth extraction. Studies indicate that approximately 40 to 60% of alveolar bone volume is lost in the first year following extraction, with the majority (approximately 2/3) occurring in the first 3 months. The buccal plate, which is thin in the anterior maxilla, is particularly vulnerable. This bone resorption is three-dimensional (horizontal and vertical), with horizontal loss being greater than vertical loss. This has significant implications for implant planning, requiring socket preservation procedures (bone grafting at the time of extraction) when implant placement is planned.