Soft tissue integration with a hybrid abutment using the "one abutment-one time" therapeutic protocol: case series

OBJECTIVE

To describe a procedure that uses a definitive BioHPP hybrid abutment (polyether ether ketone [PEEK] reinforced with ceramic nanoparticles), to obtain a hermetic mucous seal with the peri-implant soft tissues. Method and materials: Between July 2017 and December 2019, seven patients aged between 40 and 60 years, who needed prosthetic rehabilitation in the esthetic zone, were treated. Among the various therapeutic solutions offered, patients chose an immediate or conventional implant rehabilitation using the "one abutment-one time" technique with the hybrid SKY elegance implant abutment (bredent medical). Ten implants were placed, five with immediate loading including two postextraction, and five in a conventional/classic loading protocol. The protocol required that the finishing margin of the provisional restoration was positioned approximately 1 to 2 mm from the implant platform, allowing the tissues to heal around the ceramic-reinforced PEEK abutment. After 6 months for the implants with immediate loading, and 3 months for those with conventional loading, the provisional restorations were replaced with definitive zirconia-ceramic prostheses.

RESULTS

The clinical evaluation on the 10 implants showed that the reinforced PEEK abutments integrated well with the peri-implant tissues, and were healthy, without plaque, and with no bleeding on probing. An average probing depth of 1.0 mm was observed for nine of the ten placed implants, and for the tenth the implant probing depth was 1.5 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

The ceramic-reinforced PEEK abutments BioHPP SKY elegance associated with the one-time therapeutic protocol is a valid alternative to traditional implant loading procedures, leading to an effective peri-implant hermetic mucous seal. (Quintessence Int 2022;53:590-596; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b3082565; Originally published (in Italian) in Quintenssenza Internationale 2021;35:48-57).

The beyond the gap filling approach: Modeling facial and interproximal tissues and improving esthetics for anterior flapless immediate implant placement

OBJECTIVE

Maintenance of adequate interproximal tissue height between an implant and a natural tooth or between adjacent implants represents an esthetic challenge in implant dentistry. The aim of this case report is to describe a modified technique referred to as the beyond the gap filling (BGF) approach designed to improve the horizontal and vertical components of the facial aspect and particularly the height of interproximal bone peaks around immediately placed implants into fresh extraction sockets.

CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Four patients (five teeth) requiring anterior tooth extraction were treated with the BGF approach that included: (a) minimally traumatic tooth extraction; (b) immediate implant placement without flap elevation; (c) installation of a narrow profile healing abutment to protect the implant during grafting; (d) grafting with a construct with 90% bovine bone granules and 10% porcine collagen packed coronally to the facial and interproximal bone walls above the level of the bone crest; and (e) delivery of an immediate restoration.

CONCLUSIONS

The current report suggests that the level/height of the interproximal bone crests between an implant and a natural tooth or between two adjacent implants can be improved by the BGF approach and, consequently, papilla height can be maintained in cases with a high risk of papilla height collapse and, consequently, esthetic outcomes can be maximized.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The BGF is a simple technique to be used by clinicians to prevent significant papilla collapse in anterior immediate implants and consequently achieve maximum esthetic outcomes in implant dentistry.

Peri-implant soft-tissue esthetic outcome after immediate implant placement in conjunction with xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix or connective tissue graft: A randomized controlled clinical study

OBJECTIVES

This randomized comparative study evaluated the clinical esthetic outcome of the peri-implant mucosa following extraction and immediate implant placement in conjunction with anorganic bovine bone mineral (ABBM) and the use of a porcine acellular dermal matrix (pADM) versus an autogenous connective tissue graft (CTG) in the anterior maxilla.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients (11 men, 9 women) with a mean age of 48,9 years (range 21-72) were included in the study and randomly assigned to either the test (pADM) or control group (CTG). They underwent extraction and immediate implant placement together with ABBM for socket grafting and either pADM or CTG for soft tissue augmentation. Twelve months after implant placement color measurements of the peri-implant mucosa and a reference tooth were performed using a spectophotometer and the color difference (ΔE) was calculated. The overall esthetic appearance of the peri-implant soft tissue was evaluated using the Pink Esthetic Score (PES). Statistical analysis was performed using Student's T-Test, the alpha was set to 0.05.

RESULTS

All implants received osseointegration and were restored. The mean color difference of the peri-implant mucosa 1 year after surgery amounted ΔE 4.06 ± 1.6 for the test group (pADM) and ΔE 3.58 ± 1.36 mm for the control group (CTG), showing no statistically significant difference (p = 0.47). The mean PES of the pADM group was 11.4 ± 1.4 and for the CTG group 10.7 ± 1.5, showing no statistically significant difference (p = 0.29).

CONCLUSION

Twelve months after surgery, a porcine acellular dermal matrix for soft tissue augmentation in conjunction with immediate implant placement showed no difference in the overall esthetic appearance regarding color match and Pink Esthetic Score in comparison to autogenous soft tissue graft.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Connective tissue grafts have become a standard in order to enhance the soft tissue quality and esthetic appearance in immediate implant placement. The use of new biomaterials like porcine acellular dermal matrices may avoid the need to harvest autogenous grafts resulting in simplified treatment and less postoperative morbidity.

Soft-tissues stabilization after immediate implant; platform switch with supraperiosteal augmentation

The architecture around an oral implant pushes the clinicians for an equalization of biological and physiological requirements. An esthetic implant-supported restoration needs plethora of knowledge and expertise. Surgeon skills can be of use for correct tridimensional position of implant in the extraction socket, shaped abutment contours, and anatomical final crown. An immediate implant placement for a fresh socket requires existing oral parameters judgment and evidence-based treatment plan. They are hard- and soft-tissue relationship, gingival biotype, and the tooth position. In this article, we describe a case of immediate implant placement, provisional crown, bovine bone contraction, soft-tissue collapse, and its management.

Buccal bone dimensional changes at immediate implant sites in the maxillary esthetic zone within a 4-12-month follow-up period: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the changes in buccal bone dimensions (CBD) following immediate implant placement in the maxillary esthetic zone and to identify the factors influencing the degree of buccal bone resorption for different placement and restoration protocols.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An electronic search was conducted using the EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and MEDLINE (PubMed) databases, combined with a manual and gray literature search, up to January 2021. Selected clinical studies had to report the changes in horizontal buccal bone dimension in maxillary immediate implantation sites (premolar to premolar) at baseline and at follow-up visits within a year of implantation. A meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the mean value of the changes in horizontal and vertical buccal bone dimensions (CHBD and CVBD) around implants. To further investigate the heterogeneity and identify factors associated with buccal bone loss after immediate implant placement, subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression were performed.

RESULTS

From a total of 3498 articles, 4 randomized controlled trials and 12 nonrandomized controlled trials were included for analysis. The mean survival rate of 568 implants was 99.6%. The mean CHBD and CVBD values were 0.71 mm (95% confidence interval: [0.56, 0.86]) and 0.58 mm (95% confidence interval: [0.43, 0.72]), respectively. For possible factors that related to bone resorption, including buccal bone thickness, flap design, bone grafting, horizontal defect dimension, and restoration protocol, bone grafting was the only variable that significantly influenced CHBD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone does not prevent buccal bone from resorption. Due to data heterogeneity and the small sample size of the studies included in the analysis, further well-conducted, randomized controlled trials with homogeneous samples are required to investigate the correlation of CBD with different variables.

Immediate Implants in the Aesthetic Zone: Is Socket Shield Technique a Predictable Treatment Option? A Narrative Review

(1) Background. Dental implant placement in the anterior region requires extreme precision due to relatively high aesthetic demand. This narrative review aimed to analyse some of the available clinical studies of the socket-shield technique and determine its viability for dental implant survival/success and complication rates. (2) Methods. An electronic search for publications was performed using the Cochrane, PubMed-MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. All electronic searches included human clinical and animal studies and were performed by three independent examiners. (3) Results. A total of 1383 records were identified with the initial search strategies, but only 25 full texts + five abstracts clinical studies were kept after the recruitment criteria screening. The technical details, advantages, and limitations of the techniques were illustrated. (4) Conclusion. Within the limitations of the present review, it would be merely justified that immediate dental implant placement in conjunction with the socket-shield technique can be a promising strategy for dental implant therapy.

Is the timing of implant placement and loading influencing esthetic outcomes in single-tooth implants?-A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To address the following question: "Is the timing of implant placement and/or loading influencing the esthetic outcomes of implant-supported single crowns?"

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature screening was performed in four electronic databases until June 2020. Randomized controlled clinical trials with a minimum of 10 patients and 1 year of follow-up and reporting on dimensional changes of the peri-implant mucosa (midfacial recession, papilla level) and esthetic indexes were included. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used, and comparable trials were subjected to meta-analyses.

RESULTS

Out of 8549 articles, 72 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 18 were included. Nine trials evaluated the timing of implant placement, and nine trials evaluated the timing of loading. The included trials comparing immediate implant placement to delayed implant placement evaluating the midfacial recession reported heterogeneous findings. No differences were found at 1 and 2-years, when comparing midfacial recession and papilla level between immediate and early implant placement. In immediate and delayed implant placement, when comparing conventional and immediate loading, the midfacial mucosal margin change was not statistically significant at the 1-year follow-up. When evaluating the timing of implant placement and/or loading the included trials found no differences in the Pink Esthetic score, White Esthetic score, and Papilla Index between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both immediate and early implant placement protocols presented stable treatment results in terms of esthetic outcomes at the 1-, 2-, and 10-years follow-up. Loading protocols did not seem to influence esthetic outcomes in short- and medium-term follow-ups.

Maxillary vertical alveolar ridge augmentation using computer-guided sandwich osteotomy technique with simultaneous implant placement versus conventional technique: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Sandwich osteotomy technique (Inlay bone grafting) is considered as a highly reliable procedure for vertical bone augmentation in the maxillary anterior esthetic zone. The aim of this study was to compare vertical bone gain and palatal tipping using computer-guided inlay technique versus the conventional technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a randomized clinical trial including 12 patients who were randomly divided into two groups: sandwich osteotomy with simultaneous implant placement at the anterior maxillary esthetic zone (six patients) using patient-specific guides (PSGs) in the study group versus conventional technique (six patients). In the control group, free-hand sandwich osteotomy was done, while in the study group all the procedures were performed with two sequential PSGs with cutting slits, guiding holes, and implant sleeves. Radiographic assessment included measurements of linear changes in the vertical dimensions of the labial plate of bone and palatal tipping on cross-sectional cuts of cone-beam computed tomography using special software.

RESULTS

All the procedures were uneventful except one case of the study group showed a cracked bony segment that did not affect the final outcome. Radiographic results showed comparable bone gain in both groups with no statistical significance difference (study group 4.4 mm, control group 3.9 mm). To the contrary, the computer-guided approach significantly reduced the palatal tipping to 0.4 mm compared to 2.1 mm in the conventional group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p-value <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Sandwich osteotomy using PSGs appears to be efficient and showed promising results regarding improving the palatal tipping compared to the free-hand technique.

Assessment of Implant Stability in Immediate Implant Placement using Different Bone Grafting materials: A Clinical Study

Aim:

The aim of the present study was to assess the implant stability in immediate implant placement using different bone grafting materials.

Materials and Methods:

Twelve patients (5 males, 7 females, range of 40–58 years) were included in the study. All patients were divided into two groups based on the graft material used. For Group 1, Xenograft bone grafting material was used, and for Group 2, Freeze-dried bone allograft was used. The patients were suggested to rinse with 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth wash for 1 min. Periotome was used for atraumatic tooth extraction, and necessary care was taken to avoid fracture of socket wall. The implant was placed with respective bone grafting materials. An Orthopantomogram (OPG) radiograph is taken at the day of the operation to serve as baseline data for the marginal bone level. Clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months to assess the mean marginal bone level changes. Periotest was used for the measurement of implant stability.

Results:

The mean marginal bone level in Group 1 at baseline (13.58 ± 1.09), 3 months (12.64 ± 0.88), 6 months (12.02 ± 1.42), and 12 months (11.20 ± 1.26), respectively. In Group 2, the marginal bone level was at baseline (14.22 ± 0.26), 3 months (13.52 ± 1.28), 6 months (13.10 ± 0.32), and 12 months (12.12 ± 1.26), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference found in both the groups. Moreover, there was no statistically significant differences found between the groups at all the duration on intergroup comparison of the mean marginal bone level. The mean difference of implant stability in Group 1 the implant stability was 188.6 ± 22.5 and in Group 2 was 191.5 ± 18.2, and there was no statistically significant difference found between the groups.

Conclusion:

Both bone grafting materials used in the study showed improvement in implant stability and marginal bone levels after immediate placement of implant.

Immediate implant placement in fresh alveolar sockets with a minimal split-thickness envelope flap: A randomised controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Comparing PES/WES scores, modified success rate, survival, success, buccal bone thickness and patient-reported outcomes of immediate dental implants placed in fresh alveolar sockets using a flap or a minimal split-thickness envelope flap (MSTEF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Implants following random assignment into a flap or MSTEF group were placed immediately in anterior and premolar areas. Guided bone regeneration and autogenous connective tissue graft were used in all cases. A temporary prosthesis was provided followed by the final prosthesis at 16-18 weeks. Success and survival rates together with radiographic buccal bone thickness and patient satisfaction were evaluated at 12-month post-loading. The aesthetic outcome was evaluated through the Pink (PES) and White (WES) Aesthetic Score by 8 blind clinicians of different training background and incorporated in modified success criteria.

RESULTS

28 implants were placed on 28 patients. No statistically significant differences were noted in PES (10.54 control versus 10.80 test), WES scores (6.97 control versus 6.95 test) or success criteria including aesthetic parameters (modified success criteria) for the different specialty groups (Range 69%-92%). In addition, no statistically significant differences were noted in survival (100%), success (100%), buccal wall thickness between control (0.72 ± 0.22) and test group (0.92 ± 0.31) and patients' reported outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate dental implant treatment with flap/ MSTEF provided similar mean PES/WES scores, modified success rate, survival, mean buccal bone levels and patients' satisfaction. However, aesthetic failures were common in both groups.

Failure Rate, Marginal Bone Loss, and Pink Esthetic with Socket-Shield Technique for Immediate Dental Implant Placement in the Esthetic Zone. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim: To compare the failure rate, marginal bone loss, and pink esthetic for the socket-shield technique and the conventional technique for immediate dental implant placement in the esthetic zone. Material and methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, of clinical studies that evaluated the failure rate, marginal bone loss, and pink esthetic with the socket-shield technique for immediate dental implant placement in the esthetic zone was performed. A total of 4 databases were consulted in the literature search: PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. After eliminating duplicated articles and applying the inclusion criteria, 16 articles were selected for the qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results: Four randomized controlled trials, five prospective clinical studies, four retrospective studies, and three case series were included in the meta-analysis. The dental implant failure rate for the socket-shield technique for immediate dental implant placement was 1.37% (95% CI, 0.21-2.54%); however, no statistically significant differences between the conventional and socket-shield technique were found. The estimated mean difference in the marginal bone loss for the socket-shield technique was -0.5 mm (95% CI, -0.82 to -0.18) and statistically significant (p < 0.01), with a high heterogeneity (I² = 99%). The mean pink esthetic score was 12.27 (Q test = 4.47; p-value = 0.61; I² = 0%). The difference in pink esthetic between the conventional (n = 55) and socket-shield techniques (n = 55) for immediate dental implant placement was 1.15 (95% CI, 0.73-1.58; Q test = 8.88; p value = 0.11; I² = 44%). The follow-up time was found to be significant (beta coefficient = 0.023; R² = 85.6%; QM = 3.82; p = 0.049) for the PES for the socket-shield technique. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this systematic review with meta-analysis, the dental implant failure rate did not differ between the socket-shield technique and conventional technique for immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone. However, a lower marginal bone loss and higher pink esthetic scores were found for the socket-shield technique compared to the conventional technique.

Comparison of the soft and hard peri-implant tissue dimensional changes around single immediate implants in the esthetic zone with socket shield technique versus using xenograft: A randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

Compare the dimensional changes of the peri-implant soft and hard tissues clinically and radiographically around single immediate implants in the esthetic zone with socket shield technique versus filling the buccal gap with xenograft.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-two patients with a single non-restorable tooth in the esthetic zone replaced with an immediate implant were randomly assigned either to the socket shield technique (test) or to grafting the buccal gap with xenograft (control). The vertical and horizontal buccal bone resorption were measured 6-months following implant placement. The esthetic outcomes were evaluated by assessing the Pink Esthetic Score (PES) and the amount of midfacial mucosal alteration, in addition to patient satisfaction assessment through a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) based questionnaire 1-year following implant restoration.

RESULTS

The present study showed that the socket shield group yielded significantly less vertical and horizontal buccal bone resorption of 0.35 (±0.62) mm and 0.29 (±0.34) mm compared to 1.71 (±1.02) mm and 1.45 (±0.72) mm in the xenograft group respectively. Also, there was a significantly greater midfacial mucosal recession in the xenograft group of 0.466 (±0.58) mm compared to midfacial mucosal coronal migration of 0.45 (±0.75) mm in the socket shield group. However, there was no statistically significant difference regarding the total PES and patient satisfaction in both treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

The socket shield technique can preserve hard and soft peri-implant tissues following immediate implant placement. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03684356).

Primary stability and healing outcomes of apically tapered and straight implants placed into fresh extraction sockets. A pre-clinical in vivo study

OBJECTIVES

To compare the stability of apically tapered and straight (non-tapered cylindrical) implants at the time of immediate placement and to histologically evaluate the healing outcomes after 6 weeks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The second maxillary incisors were extracted bilaterally in nine dogs. After randomization, apically tapered and straight implants with a 3.3 mm shoulder diameter were inserted into the extraction sockets. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) of the implants was recorded after placement. Peri-implant defects on the buccal aspect were filled with deproteinized bovine bone mineral and covered with resorbable type I/III porcine collagen matrix. After 6 weeks of healing, sections were prepared for histological and morphometric analysis.

RESULTS

All implant sites healed uneventfully. The apically tapered implants had significantly higher ISQ values compared to straight implants at placement (p = .009). The histomorphometric outcomes 6 weeks following implant placement in both experimental groups were similar, except in the apico-palatal region. Apically tapered implants demonstrated significantly less percentage bone-to-implant contact (p = .035) in the apico-palatal region. At both implant types, substantial corono-apical resorption of the buccal bone wall was noted in the coronal 2 mm of the implant.

CONCLUSION

Apically tapered implants had significantly higher ISQ values at immediate placement compared to straight implants. The healing outcomes and remodelling of the buccal bone wall were similar for both implant designs. In the apico-palatal region, there was less %BIC at the implant surface at apically tapered implants compared to straight implants.

A 22-Year Follow Up of Immediate Implant Placement without Bone Augmentation: A Case Series Study

PURPOSE

To retrospectively evaluate the treatment outcome of immediate implants placed in fresh extraction sockets without bone augmentation after 22 years of function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study group received implant therapy in 1997, including surgical placement and prosthodontic rehabilitation. The mean age of the subjects at the time of implant placement was 40 ± 5.54 years. A total of 35 subjects received 36 implants in fresh extraction sockets without bone augmentation. Definitive prostheses were placed 4 to 6 months after implant placement. Implant treatment outcomes were evaluated using clinical and radiographic parameters obtained during follow-up visits at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 22 years after prosthetic loading.

RESULTS

Among the 35 treated subjects, five patients moved out of the country and could not be evaluated at the follow-up times. A total of 29 subjects were included in the study with a drop-out rate of 14.1%. Of these, one patient lost the implant during the osseointegration period before prosthodontic treatment. No other implant failure or complication during the rest of the follow-up period was reported, thus giving a cumulative survival rate of 97.2% during the 22-year follow-up. The change in marginal bone level was less than 2 mm in most subjects at the 22-year examination. The mean bone loss from baseline to 22-year follow-up was 1.61 mm, and the mean bone level at the 22-year follow-up examination was situated at 2.13 ± 0.023 mm from the implant platform, which was used as the reference point.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate implant placement in extraction sockets exhibits excellent prognosis even when bone augmentation is not performed.

Socket shield: An esthetic success?

Dental implants require adequate bone, three dimensionally, for successful osseointegration. The extraction socket changes in the dimension had been described in several studies. Implant in extraction socket cannot prevent resorption of the surrounding tissues. The bony alterations make oral esthetic implant reconstruction difficult without hard- and soft-tissue augmentation. Placement of bone substitute material and immediate implant were not able to completely establish an esthetic outcome. A novel technique of retaining the buccal aspect of the tooth root during implant placement has shown preservation of esthetics. Hard and soft tissues were preserved in their original form around the replaced tooth. The retained root on the buccal aspect of an oral implant is observed to have formed cementum and to some aspects of osseointegration with the surrounding tissues. It is called socket-shield technique and if completed meticulously can be an alternative for regenerative materials and soft-tissue grafting. In our report, we completed 14 cases of the said technique with 5-year follow-up. The results looked promising as none of the cases required guided bone regeneration procedures. This may become the future noninvasive method for the preservation of hard and soft tissues around an oral implant in esthetic areas.

Prosthetically driven immediate implant placement at lower molar area; an anatomical study

PURPOSE

To examine the effectiveness and safety of immediate implant placement (IIP), we evaluated the risk of lingual plate perforation (LPP) and mandibular canal perforation (MCP) associated with posterior mandible anatomy using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A morphological study of the molar sockets of 135 patients (age: 18-84 y) was done and its relationship to the mandibular canal was investigated. The risk of LPP and MCP was recorded as yes or no. Mandibular cross-sectional morphology was defined as one of three types (U-P-C) using the criteria of Chan et al.

RESULTS

The risk of LPP was significantly higher for second molars (p = 0.0001), and the risk increased with age (p = 0.039). There was a strong relationship between the risk of LPP and cross-section type U (p = 0.0001). The mean root to alveolar canal (RAC) distance (mm) of males was significantly higher than that of females. The mean RAC value was 5.02 mm for males and 3.49 mm for females. There was no statistically significant relationship between the risk of MCP and sex. There was a significant relationship between the risk of MCP and cross-section type U (p = 0.0001). Although the MCP risk was higher in second molars, there was no statistically meaningful relation between MCP and tooth type.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that IIP in the mandibular molar area carries a high risk of MCP and LPP. Based on the elevated level of risk, a delayed implant protocol should be considered.

Sectional Connective Tissue Technique Combined With an Emergence Profile Provisional for Gingival Margin Stabilization During Immediate Implant Placement: A Case Report With a 2-Year Follow-Up

INTRODUCTION

Little is known regarding maintaining free gingival margin stability after immediate implant placement. Therefore, we present a sequential technique incorporating a sectional connective tissue graft with an emergence tissue provisional to stabilize the free gingival margin position during immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 57-year-old male was referred for assessment and treatment of a failing maxillary right central incisor. Clinical examination revealed poor retentive features, recurrent caries, and exposed endodontic material rendering a poor prognosis for the remaining tooth root system. After comprehensive evaluation, as well as understanding important patient case expectations, a decision was made to remove the existing tooth and place an immediate implant with a staged-provisional approach. To maintain the free gingival mid-facial height, a sectional-connective tissue graft technique was used concurrently with a custom emergence profile provisional to stabilize the gingiva immediately post-implant placement.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing implant replacement of failing anterior maxillary teeth are at risk of esthetic complications. Marginal stability of the facial gingival is an important component of establishing and maintaining the final esthetic outcome. In cases where the initial hard or soft tissue thickness may put the patient at risk, combining soft and hard tissue augmentation with attention to emergence profile provisionalization appears to aid in the initial stability of the buccal free gingival margin. This report details the steps associated with a sectional connective tissue technique combined with emergence profile provisonalization and characterizes the gingival stability up to 2.5 years obtained with this approach.

[Clinical evaluation of the socket-shield technique for immediate implantation in the maxillary anterior region]

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of the socket-shield technique in the maxillary anterior region at one year after implant placement.

METHODS

Ten patients with maxillary anterior teeth that cannot be reserved were enrolled. Implants were installed following the socket-shield technique and restored six months after the surgery. The thickness of the labial maxillary bone of the implant was compared before and one year after the surgery. At one year follow-up, the reten-tion rate of the implants, Jemt classification, and pink and white aesthetic scores were evaluated. Postoperative complications and patient satisfaction were also analyzed.

RESULTS

One year after installation, the retention rate of the implant was 100%. The thickness of the maxillary bone at the neck, central, and root section of the implant reduced to (0.27±0.21), (0.19±0.20), and (0.28±0.29) mm, respectively, compared with the values immediately after the operation. The thickness of the labial maxillary bone at the three measurement points immediately after and one year after the operation was statistically significant (P<0.05). No significant difference (P>0.05) of the difference thickness between immediate and one year after operation at the three measurement points. The pink esthetic scores of the implant prosthesis was 9.10±0.54, and the white esthetic scores was 9.00±0.63. No complications were observed, and the patients had a high degree of satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The socket-shield technique could provide acceptable treatment results but cannot completely avoid the reconstruction of the labial maxillary bone of the implants. The technique exhibits favo-rable short-term aesthetic result, but its long-term clinical effect and aesthetic problems need to be further studied.

Socket-shield technique for implant placement to stabilize the facial gingival and osseous architecture: A systematic review

The aim of the present study was to establish the efficacy of the socket-shield technique (SST) for the stabilization of the facial gingival and osseous architecture. An electronic search including the Cochrane databases, EBSCOhost, Medline/PubMed and Web of Science was performed. Articles related to SST for placing dental implants were included. Articles and abstracts not written in English were excluded. The initial literature search resulted in 113 articles related to questions raised. Hand searching of the journals related to implants and cross-referencing related to SST within the selected articles resulted in 1 more paper. Finally, 20 full texts and abstract of 1 article were included in the present systematic review: 11 case reports, 6 case series, 1 human randomized control trial (RCT), 1 technical report and 2 animal RCT. Recent modifications in SST, along with long follow-up studies with increased sample size, provided promising results. This systematic review still recommends that SST should not be used in routine clinical practise until a higher level of evidence established. Further RCT on SST are required to establish the clinical efficacy of this technique.

The four-layer graft technique, a hard and soft tissue graft from the tuberosity in one piece

OBJECTIVE

Successful immediate implant placement in the maxillary anterior zone continues to be a challenge. There is an uncertainty on whether it should be performed on patients with thin gingival phenotype or incomplete buccal plate. This clinical case report describes a novel technique for immediate implant placement with simultaneous hard and soft tissue augmentation.

CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

This technique employs a combined epithelialized-subepithelialized connective tissue graft and cortical-cancellous autogenous bone graft for the treatment of incomplete buccal plate at an extraction site. Significant horizontal bone regeneration appears to have been achieved as well as soft tissue augmentation for a central incisor in a single surgical step. Following three and a half years, gingival contours and bone augmentation were stable with a pleasant esthetic result.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the four-layer tissue graft for immediate implant placement can be suggested to improve hard and soft tissues in a single procedure.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The use of the four-layer graft technique has shown to be successful regarding function and esthetic outcomes in anterior immediate implant placement. It reduces surgical interventions and treatment time and minimizes soft tissue recession and bone resorption.

Correlation between buccal and alveolar bone widths at the central incisors according to cone-beam-computed tomography

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess whether there is a correlation between buccal bone thickness and mean alveolar bone thickness around the central teeth using CBCT images.

Materials and Methods

Three points were selected at 3, 6 and 9 mm from the cemento-enamel junction, respectively, perpendicular to the long axis of the measuring points made to determine the width of the alveolar bone ridge. The arithmetic mean of the length measurements was taken as the average alveolar bone thickness. To determine the average buccal alveolar bone thickness, the buccal bone length was measured perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth from these 3 points, and the average of the measurements was taken from these 3 points.

Results

The mean coronal, mid-root, and apical third root widths of the maxillary, left central incisors were 7.72±0.60, 8.64 ± 0.93, and 9.23±1.45 mm, respectively and the mean widths of the buccal alveolar bone at the coronal, mid-root, and apical third root positions of the left central incisor were 1.18±0.39, 1.15±0.44, and 1.06±0.50 mm, respectively. The Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.194 and 0.191 for the left and right central incisors, respectively.

Conclusions

There was no statistically significant difference between the alveolar bone thickness averages of the left and right central incisors, but the alveolar bone thickness was found to be thicker in males than females. Although the mean of alveolar and buccal bone thicknesses was positively correlated the statistical analysis demonstrated the correlation between the mean of alveolar and buccal bone thicknesses is not significant.

Validity of a regenerative procedure for a minor bone defect with immediate implant placement: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review evaluates implant survival and the change in the width of the horizontal ridge following immediate implant placement with or without a regenerative procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the LILACS database of the Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials was performed, along with a manual search, up to April 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs) with >10 subjects were eligible for this systematic review. A meta-analysis of the risk difference in implant failure between the regenerative and non-regenerative procedure groups was performed using a fixed-effect model. In addition, a meta-analysis of the change in alveolar bone width was conducted using a fixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Seven studies (six RCTs and one CCT) were included. A meta-analysis of three studies found no statistically significant risk difference in implant failure between the regenerative procedure and non-regenerative procedure groups. A meta-analysis of four studies showed that horizontal shrinkage of the alveolar ridge in the site of immediate implant placement was statistically significantly lower with the regenerative procedure than without it (<1 year follow up studies: weighted mean difference (WMD) 0.75 mm, 95% confidence interval 0.41-1.09, p < .00001; ≥1 year follow up study: WMD 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.52-1.91, p = .00006; total: WMD 0.84 mm, 95% confidence interval 0.53-1.14, p < .00001).

CONCLUSION

Within the study limitations, immediate implant placement with a regenerative procedure showed similar implant survival and less shrinkage of the ridge width than immediate implant placement without a regenerative procedure. Due to the high risk of bias and small sample sizes of the included studies, further clinical studies are warranted to draw definitive conclusions.

Effect of guided bone regeneration on immediately placed implants: Meta-analyses with at least 12 months follow up after functional loading

INTRODUCTION

Immediate implant placement (IIP) into fresh extraction socket is a favorable treatment option. If successfully managed, it reduces the overall treatment time, and increases patient's satisfaction. Surgical and restorative factors affect IIP success rates. In this systematic review we evaluate the effect of guided bone regeneration (GBR) at the time of IIP on crestal bone level (CBL) changes after at least 12-months of functional loading.

METHODS

Reviewers conducted an independent search of the National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library from 1966 to January 2017 following the inclusion criteria. A hand search of bibliographies of reviews and clinical trials related to IIP was also performed. This study looked into CBL changes around IIP primarily and further extracted the data to conduct three meta-analysis of "IIP using GBR versus IIP without GBR", "IIP using bone graft alone versus IIP using bone graft with membrane" and "IIP using GBR versus conventional implant placement" which were further subdivided to provide more detailed information for each. Four reviewers independently assessed the study data and methodologic quality using data extraction and assessment forms.

RESULTS

The electronic search identified 714 potential studies and the hand search retrieved 55 studies. Crestal bone level (CBL) changes were determined in three meta-analyses. The results revealed a mean difference in CBL changes of 0.179 ± 0.174 mm  in favor of IIP without GBR when compared with implant with GBR. However, IIP with bone graft and membrane showed better results when compared with IIP with bone graft alone [CBL changes of 0.532 ± 0.572 mm]. CBL preservation was noted in IIP with GBR versus conventional implant placement [CBL changes of - 0.001 ± 0.049 mm].

CONCLUSIONS

Meta-analyses showed minimal difference in CBL around IIP with bone graft versus without bone graft and with IIP with GBR compared with conventional implant placement. However, IIP with bone graft and membrane reported better CBL preservation compared with IIP with bone graft alone. Nonetheless, these results should be interpreted with caution because of moderate heterogeneity between studies.

A novel methodological approach using superimposed Micro-CT and STL images to analyze hard and soft tissue volume in immediate and delayed implants with different cervical designs

OBJECTIVES

To study the hard and soft tissue volume after placing immediate (IMI) or delayed implants (DLI) with a triangular coronal macro-design (Test/T) or a conventional cylindrical design (Control/C).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

T/C implants were inserted in healed ridges or in fresh extraction sockets of eight beagle dogs. Biopsies were processed for Micro-CT analysis and dental stone casts were optically scanned to obtain STL files revealing the soft tissue contours at 12 weeks. Image analysis software was utilized to match common landmarks superimposing the two sets of data. Three distinct volumes were calculated; buccal bone volume (B-BV), soft tissue volume below the implant shoulder (EC-STV), and the soft tissue volume above the implant shoulder (SC-STV). Using linear measurements, the soft tissue height (STH), the mucosal thickness (MT-IS), and the distance from the implant shoulder to the bone crest (I-BC) were assessed in the digital images and in conventional histology to assess the concordance, reproducibility, and reliability.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between test and control implants regarding the buccal bone volume, although test implants had greater B-BV in all locations except for PM2. The soft tissue volume was similar at T/C implants. The surgical approach influenced the distribution of the total tissue volume. In the IMI, a low position of the bone crest was correlated with low values of B-BV, SC-STV, MT-IS, and STH. Linear measurements showed a high correlation between the histology and digital measurements and high inter and intra examiner agreement.

CONCLUSION

The superimposition of Micro-CT/STL allowed the analysis of soft and hard tissue volumes. Reduction of the implant buccal aspect resulted in nonsignificant higher bone volume although similar soft tissue volume while the surgical approach influenced soft tissue response.

Influence of soft tissue grafting, orofacial implant position, and angulation on facial hard and soft tissue thickness at immediately inserted and provisionalized implants in the anterior maxilla

BACKGROUND

Resorption of hard and soft tissues following immediate implant insertion is frequently reported. Data regarding the influencing factors on facial tissue thickness are rare.

PURPOSE

This retrospective study investigated the impact of connective tissue grafting, the orofacial angulation and position of immediately inserted and provisionalized implants on the facial hard and soft tissue thickness in the anterior maxilla within a 1- to 5-year follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Implants with the prerequisite of having preoperative and postoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a follow-up of 1 to 5 years were included. Facial bone deficiencies were grafted flaplessly with autogenous bone in all sites. In a subgroup of implants additional connective tissue grafting was performed, whereas the remaining implants were not grafted with soft tissue. The orofacial tooth and implant angulation, the change of horizontal position and the facial bone thickness were measured by CBCT, the facial mucosa thickness by an ultrasonic device.

RESULTS

In total, 76 implants were placed in 55 patients. Sixty-nine sites showed a facial bone defect. Thirty-eight received a connective tissue graft additionally. All implants were still in function after a mean follow-up of 36 months. The mean thickness of the facial mucosa was 1.72 mm at 1 mm, 1.63 mm at 4 mm, 1.52 mm at 6 mm, and 1.66 mm at 9 mm apically to mucosal margin. The bone thickness was 0.02, 0.25, and 0.36 mm initially and 1.32, 1.26, and 1.11 mm finally at 1, 3, and 6 mm apically to implant shoulder level. Mixed model analysis revealed an impact of the preoperative bone status on the facial bone increase. The facial soft tissue thickness was significantly influenced by the gingival biotype.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that an initial severe hard tissue defect allows for significant bone regeneration. The facial soft tissue thickness is primarily influenced by the gingival biotype.