Approximately how much of the alveolar ridge WIDTH is lost in the first year following extraction of a maxillary central incisor?

Correct answer: A. About 50%

• A. ✅ CORRECT — Schropp's classic work showed roughly 50% loss of ridge WIDTH within 12 months, with about two-thirds of that occurring in the first three months. The buccal plate resorbs preferentially because the bundle bone that lines the socket depends on the periodontal ligament for its blood supply and disappears with the tooth.
• B. ❌ 90% would essentially obliterate the ridge and does not occur in the first year.
• C. ❌ 10% would be a trivial change and does not reflect what is observed clinically.
• D. ❌ 25% underestimates the loss; that is closer to the vertical (height) change.

Note: This is the rationale for socket preservation grafting and for immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone.