Postextraction Dental Implant in the Aesthetic Zone, Socket Shield Technique Versus Conventional Protocol

Abstract

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the survival rate, the marginal bone level, and the aesthetic outcome; at 3 years' follow-up, of dental implants placed into a high-esthetic aesthetic zone by comparing 2 techniques of postextraction implant with immediate loading: the socket shied technique and the conventional insertion technique.Several clinical studies suggested that the avulsion of a dental element causes dimensional alterations of both soft and hard tissues at the postextractive site. To increase the aesthetic outcomes, the "socket-shield technique" has been proposed. This method involves maintaining the vestibular root portion and immediate insertion of the dental implant in close proximity to the root.Patients enrolled in this study were randomized to receive a postextraction implant in the aesthetic zone, either with the socket shied technique or with the conventional insertion technique. Implant survival, marginal bone level, and the pink aesthetic score were the outcomes evaluated.Implant survival rate was 100% in both the groups at 3 years. Implants inserted with the socket shield technique showed better values of both marginal bone level and pink aesthetic score (P < 0.05).Although such preliminary results need to be further confirmed, the socket shield technique seems to be a safe surgical technique that allows an implant rehabilitation characterized by better aesthetic outcomes.

Socket‐shield technique for implant placement to stabilize the facial gingival and osseous architecture: A systematic review

“…Detailed analysis of the included studies is presented in Table as clinical and animal studies on the SST and their outcome. Of the included studies, 11 were case reports, 6 case series, 1 clinical randomized control trial, 1 technical report and 2 animal randomized control trials …”

“…SYRCLE's tool for assessing risk of bias for the 2 animal randomized trials was performed and is presented in Table . All 3 studies had a low risk of bias and are unlikely to alter the results of the systematic review.…”

“…Pink esthetic score evaluates the anterior esthetic of the implant‐supported single crown on 7 points: mesial and distal papilla; soft‐tissue color; contour; level; texture; and deficiency of alveolar. Bramanti et al in a randomized trial compared 2 techniques of post‐extraction implant placed with the SST and the conventional technique in a 3‐year follow up and found that the SST is safe and provides better esthetic results compared with the conventional technique. The implant survival rate was 100% in both groups.…”

“…Detailed analysis of the included studies is presented in Table 1 [6][7][8][9][10][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] as clinical and animal studies on the SST and their outcome.…”

The (in)adequacy of translational research in dentistry

“…From 2018 to 2019, another three animal experiments were published, which reflects an inverted order in the translational research process, with human research being published before animal experiments. Finally, the 19 case reports and series were published before the first randomized clinical trial (RCT) on the technique was published in 2018 ().…”