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

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

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.

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.

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.