Pink Esthetic Score Around Single-Tooth Implant Crowns After Socket-Shield Technique: A Prospective Cohort Study

Esthetics is important for any dental implant but crucial for implants in the anterior region. Restorations in this region are demanding, and the goal of re-establishing an attractive smile without revealing differences from the natural teeth is difficult to achieve. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical success of the socket-shield technique regarding soft tissue stability and overall esthetic outcome. Pink esthetic scores (PESs) were collected at two time points (T1: 6 months; T2: 6 years) by three different specialists. This prospective cohort clinical study involved 30 patients (7 women and 23 men) with a mean age of 42.3 years. There were no significant differences in PES values assessed by the oral surgeon and prosthodontist (P > .05) at either of the assigned time points. The periodontist found differences in PES values between T1 and T2 (P < .05), but they were modest in value. Analyses of each individual variable at given time intervals revealed significant differences in the shape of the distal papillae (χ2 = 6.182; P < .05) and soft tissue margin level (χ2 = 6.507; P < .05). The final results suggest that the socket-shield technique is promising for implant placement in the esthetic zone.