Wound Healing Following Extraction and Ridge Preservation in Smokers and Non-smokers

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients (18-75 years) * Good general health (controlled conditions) * Smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day for ≥5 years) and never smokers. Confirmation of smoking status will be done via use of a smokerlyzer. The cut-off point for distinguishing smokers from non-smokers is 8 carbon monoxide parts per million (ppm). * Periodontal status: periodontal health, gingivitis on intact or reduced periodontium, treated periodontitis * Intact post-extraction bony walls or less than 50% bone dehiscence * Distance at least 8 mm of vertical bone height between bone crest and anatomical structures (i.e. sinus floor, inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) canal, mental foramen) * Extracted tooth root in the same three-dimensional position as the future implant placement so that the bone core biopsy can be taken from a site totally within the confines of the former tooth socket without inclusion of surrounding native alveolar bone * Scheduled for single tooth extraction with bone graft placement and membrane Exclusion Criteria: * Uncontrolled periodontal disease * Uncontrolled systemic disease * Pregnancy * Use of therapy and/or medication that impairs wound healing (e.g., bisphosphonates, steroids, chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc.)