Could the socket shield technique be better than conventional immediate implantation? A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Oral Surgery
• Periodontology

Background:

• Immediate dental implant placement in the esthetic zone presents challenges in preserving bone and soft tissue architecture.
• Conventional immediate implantation (CII) techniques may lead to significant buccal bone resorption and compromised esthetic outcomes.
• The socket shield technique (SST) has been proposed as an alternative to mitigate these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical outcomes of the socket shield technique (SST) versus conventional immediate implantation (CII).
• To evaluate the efficacy of SST in preserving bone levels and enhancing soft tissue esthetics in immediate implantations.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
• Searches were performed in five major electronic databases up to June 31, 2021.
• Key outcome measures included buccal bone resorption (horizontal and vertical), soft tissue recession (PES), patient satisfaction (PS), implant stability quotient (ISQ), and success rate (SRI).

Main Results:

• Ten studies involving 388 implants (194 in SST, 194 in CII) were analyzed.
• SST demonstrated significantly lower buccal bone resorption (BBH, BBV) compared to CII.
• SST resulted in higher pink esthetic scores (PES), greater patient satisfaction (PS), and improved implant stability (ISQ).

Conclusions:

• The socket shield technique (SST) is a potentially superior option for immediate implantations in the esthetic zone compared to conventional immediate implantation (CII).
• SST effectively reduces bone tissue absorption and enhances soft tissue contouring post-extraction.
• Further evaluation of the long-term success rates of SST is warranted.