Immediate Implant Placement and Provisionalization in the Aesthetic Zone Using a Digital Workflow: A 1-Year...

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Aesthetic Dentistry
• Digital Dentistry

Background:

• Immediate implant placement in the maxillary aesthetic zone requires precise treatment planning.
• Integrating intraoral scanning with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables 3D prosthetic-driven planning.
• This digital workflow facilitates static computer-assisted implant surgery and prefabrication of temporary restorations for immediate chairside placement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical, aesthetic, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes of immediate implant placement and restoration in the maxillary aesthetic zone.
• To assess the efficacy of a digital workflow involving intraoral scanning, CBCT, and pre-fabricated temporaries.

Main Methods:

• A prospective case series included 30 patients with failing teeth in the maxillary aesthetic zone.
• Patients received immediate implant placement with bone grafting and a pre-fabricated temporary restoration.
• Outcomes were assessed at multiple time points, including 1 year after definitive restoration.

Main Results:

• The pre-fabricated temporary restoration was successfully placed in all patients.
• Implant survival rate was 90% after 1 year, with 100% survival for temporary and 100%/96% survival/success for definitive restorations.
• High patient satisfaction (9.2/10) and favorable aesthetic scores (Pink Esthetic Score 15.4, White Esthetic Score 15.4) were reported, with minimal marginal bone loss (-0.18mm mesial, -0.44mm distal).

Conclusions:

• The digital workflow enables the fabrication of pre-fabricated temporary restorations.
• This approach leads to satisfactory clinical, aesthetic, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes.
• Immediate single-tooth implant placement in the aesthetic zone is a viable treatment option with this digital methodology.