Immediate Implant Placement Using the Socket Shield Technique: Clinical, Radiographic, and Volumetric Results Using...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
• Implantology

Background:

• Alveolar bone and soft tissue remodeling after tooth extraction negatively impacts dental implant outcomes.
• Current surgical techniques for preserving alveolar dimensions are often unpredictable.
• Minimizing volumetric changes is crucial for successful prosthetic rehabilitation and esthetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the dimensional changes in peri-alveolar structures following immediate implant placement using the socket shield technique.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the socket shield technique in preserving hard and soft tissues at extraction sites.

Main Methods:

• A case series involving 50 patients undergoing immediate implant placement with the socket shield technique.
• Preoperative and 6-month postoperative 3D digital quantification of soft tissue changes via superimposition.
• Analysis of dimensional changes at various peri-alveolar landmarks (papilla, central margins, mid-facial margin).

Main Results:

• 100% implant survival rate with no complications observed.
• Minimal mean dimensional changes recorded across all measured sites, including mesial papilla (-0.85 mm) and distal papilla (-0.95 mm).
• The buccal contour remained clinically convex in all cases, indicating preserved volume.

Conclusions:

• The socket shield technique combined with immediate implant placement is a predictable method for preserving alveolar dimensions.
• This approach effectively minimizes hard and soft tissue resorption, supporting favorable esthetic and functional outcomes for dental restorations.
• The technique demonstrates significant potential for improving patient rehabilitation options after tooth extraction.