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All-in-one digital template-guided apicoectomy and modified socket shield technique for apical-infected aesthetic
Xueqi Guo1, Lingqiao Xu2, Dongping Lan3
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Oral Implantology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Introduction:
The socket-shield technique (SST) is one of the effective methods for maintaining hard and soft tissue contours during immediate implant placement. For non-restorable teeth complicated with chronic apical inflammation, conventional SST alone often fails to ensure complete elimination of apical infection.
Technical Note:
For aesthetic zone teeth with chronic apical inflammation that are planned for SST, fabrication of an apicoectomy guide using digital technologies not only enables thorough removal of apical lesions and guarantees the required shield length but also provides an optimal surgical field for precise socket-shield preparation.
Conclusion:
This technique standardizes the operative process of SST for teeth with chronic apical inflammation, effectively eliminates apical infection, ensures sufficient shield length and clear surgical visualization, and may potentially broaden the indications of SST in such specific clinical scenarios.