Selecting treatment options and sequencing treatment in the replacement of 2 maxillary central incisors with...

This article describes treatment provided to replace 2 maxillary central incisors with implant-supported restorations. The site of a missing maxillary central incisor was treated utilizing a bone expansion technique to augment the labial hard and soft-tissue profiles at the time of implant placement. The adjacent central incisor tooth, although destined to be extracted, was retained to serve as an abutment for a fixed provisional restoration until the first implant was deemed to have successfully integrated. At the appointment to uncover this implant, the fractured tooth was extracted and an implant was immediately placed into the socket. The first implant was then used to support the provisional restoration during the healing phase of the second implant. The techniques utilized resulted in optimum soft-tissue contours, allowed the patient to have a comfortable and esthetic provisional restoration, and minimized the number of surgical procedures.