The replacement of an unrestorable tooth with a single implant-supported prosthesis is a treatment with predictable and successful outcomes. The anterior maxilla region is a complicated site for such treatment, due to its esthetic, functional, and physiological sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in the soft tissue following an immediate implant procedure using guided surgery in combination with a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) customized titanium anatomic abutment in the esthetic zone. A total of 13 patients who had been treated with an immediate post-extraction implant placement and an immediate provisional restoration were included in the study. The changes in the soft tissue dimension, interdental papilla, and esthetic score were evaluated with a follow-up of at least one year. There was no significant change in the midfacial mucosal status when compared to the pre-treatment situation. The recession of the mesial papillary height was 0.32 mm and the distal papillary height was 0.10 mm. The mean horizontal change in the labial mucosa was 0.32 ± 0.83 mm. There was no significant difference between the mesial papilla index and the distal papilla index. The pink esthetic score value prior to treatment was 11.16, and at one-year follow-up, 10.25. Within the limitations of this study, the immediate post-extraction implant placement procedure with a stereolithographic guide and a provisionalization with a CAD/CAM customized titanium anatomic abutment may be a treatment option with predictable outcomes for the replacement of teeth in the esthetic zone.

Oh YK, et al. J Korean Acad Prosthodont. 2020 Jan;58(1):58-66. https://doi.org/10.4047/jkap.2020.58.1.58