Combined dental implant and guided tissue regeneration therapy in humans

This study evaluated wound healing and osseointegration of dental implants placed in immediate postextraction sockets in humans. Ten healthy adults had one or more teeth extracted and replaced with ITI dental implants, which were centered in the residual socket and covered with a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and a flap to attain primary closure. Measurements were made to document the relationship of bone to implant at the time of implant placement and at the 6-month reentry. All implants were clinically osseointegrated at the 6-month reentry procedure; narrow bony defects showed complete bone fill, while wide defects showed partial bone fill. There was less bone regeneration in areas of thin cortical bone or preexisting dehiscences and in implant sites with early membrane exposure. Implants placed in immediate postextraction sockets demonstrated successful osseointegration with irregular bone-healing patterns, which were related to variations in existing bony anatomy and socket location.