Comparative Assessment of Crestal Bone Levels in Immediate Versus Delayed Implant Placement With and Without Bone Graft.

Background Presently, modern regenerative and surgical techniques for immediate implant placement in prepared sockets with soft tissue grafts and bone substitutes have helped eliminate concerns about bone deficiency. This also allowed the placement of dental implants based on prosthodontic needs. Aim  The present study aimed to comparatively assess dental implant healing following immediate implant placement with or without bone graft and dental implant healing after delayed implant placement with or without bone graft. Methods The study included 120 study subjects that were divided into two groups. Group I for immediate implant placement with or without bone graft (n=60) and Group II for delayed implant placement with or without bone graft (n=60). These two groups were further divided into subgroups. Group I subjects were further divided into two subgroups, where Group A (n=30) subjects underwent immediate implant placement with bone graft and Group B (n=30) subjects were given immediate implant placement without bone graft. Group II participants were further divided into two subgroups, where Group C (n=30) subjects underwent delayed implant placement with bone graft and Group D (n=30) subjects underwent delayed implant placement without bone graft. In the two groups, crestal bone levels were compared radiographically preoperatively and postoperatively at the immediate postoperative time, three months, and six months. Results More reduction in the crestal bone level was seen in the immediate implant placement group at three and six months postoperatively compared to the delayed implant placement group. A non-significant reduction in crestal bone levels was seen in the immediate implant placement with bone graft group with p>0.05 at three and six months compared to immediate implant placement without bone graft. Similar, non-significant crestal bone loss was seen in the delayed implant placement with bone graft group at three and six months compared to delayed implant placement with bone graft. Conclusions  This study concluded that healing of crestal bone in the delayed implant placement group with or without bone graft is better in comparison to the immediate implant placement group with or without bone graft.