A Systematic Review on Immediate Implant Placement in Intact Versus Non-Intact Alveolar Sockets

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Immediate implant placement (IIP) is a common dental procedure.
• Comparing outcomes in intact versus non-intact tooth sockets is crucial for treatment planning.
• Buccal bone thickness (BBT) is a key factor influencing esthetic and long-term implant success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically compare the outcomes of IIP in intact versus non-intact tooth sockets.
• To evaluate differences in buccal bone thickness (BBT) between the two socket types.
• To assess secondary outcomes including soft tissue level, esthetic scores, implant survival, and complications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series up to June 2024.
• Literature search conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases.
• Primary outcome: buccal bone thickness (BBT); Secondary outcomes: soft tissue level, pink esthetic score (PES), implant survival, complications.

Main Results:

• Twenty articles on 525 implants (265 intact, 260 non-intact) were included; overall study quality was low.
• Meta-analyses were not feasible due to heterogeneity and lack of direct comparisons.
• BBT, soft tissue changes, and PES were comparable between intact and non-intact sockets; implant survival exceeded 90%.

Conclusions:

• IIP in intact and non-intact sockets demonstrates similar outcomes.
• Low study quality and heterogeneity limit definitive conclusions, particularly for non-intact sockets.
• Further high-quality research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines for IIP in non-intact sockets.