Predicting bone and soft tissue alterations of immediate implant sites in the esthetic zone using clinical parameters.

BACKGROUND

Immediate implantation is generally a predictable treatment, but sometimes there are significant tissue alterations at the surgical site which compromise clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the association between tissue alterations and different clinical parameters in esthetic areas following immediate implant placement and provisionalization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical parameters were measured at 36 non-grafted immediate implant sites enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Alterations of bone and soft tissue were measured at 12 months after the treatment. Stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between different clinical parameters and outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

Gingival thickness 3 mm apical to the gingival margin (GT3) was positively associated with recession of mid-buccal gingival margin, while vertical distance between the buccal gingival margin and the crest (GM-bone) was negatively associated (P = .03, .01). Flap elevation and older age were positively associated with recession of the interproximal gingival margin (P = .04, .01). Horizontal defect dimension was positively associated with buccal ridge dimensional reduction while gingival thickness at free gingival margin (GT1) was negatively associated (P = .01, .04). Regarding interproximal bone level change, none of the clinical parameters was significantly associated.

CONCLUSIONS

Gingival phenotype was the only parameter significantly associated with both buccal gingival recession and buccal ridge dimensional reduction. It is important to assess clinical parameters before and during immediate implant procedure.