Soft & Hard Tissue Assessment around Immediate & Delayed Implants: A Clinico-Radiographical Study.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
• Implantology

Background:

• Modern dentistry prioritizes predictable, short-duration treatments for missing teeth replacement.
• Endosseous dental implants are a reliable solution for tooth loss, with evolving techniques aiming to reduce treatment time.
• Immediate implant placement in fresh extraction sockets is a technique to shorten overall treatment duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare treatment outcomes of immediate dental implants versus conventional delayed implants.
• To evaluate peri-implant soft and hard tissue levels using clinical and radiographic (Cone Beam Computed Tomography - CBCT) assessments.
• To determine if short-duration treatment with immediate implants is comparable to delayed implant protocols.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized clinical controlled study involving 30 implants in 13 patients.
• Group 1 (immediate implant): Type 1 ITI protocol (15 implants).
• Group 2 (delayed implant): Type 4 ITI protocol (15 implants).
• Implants were loaded with definitive restorations after 3 months.
• Evaluated parameters included marginal bone width/height, probing depth, keratinized gingiva width, and papillary index at baseline, 3 months post-insertion, and 3 months post-loading.

Main Results:

• Delayed implants showed a statistically significant reduction in marginal bone width compared to immediate implants.
• Immediate implants exhibited a significant reduction in marginal bone height and keratinized gingiva width.
• Delayed implants demonstrated a significant reduction in pocket depth post-surgery and post-loading (p<0.05).
• Both groups showed regeneration of interproximal papillae throughout the study.

Conclusions:

• Both immediate and delayed implant placement protocols yield similar overall results.
• Delayed implant placement demonstrated superiority in specific aspects, including marginal bone height and keratinized gingiva width.
• Thorough evaluation of implant sites prior to placement is crucial for optimal aesthetic and survival outcomes.