Abstract
Background: The socket-shield technique still requires more scientific based evidence to be recommended as everyday clinical practice, the aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the facial-palatal ridge dimensional changes that occurred after a minimum of 8 months following flapless dual-zone (DZ) immediate implant placement and socket-shield (SS) immediate placement in the maxilla.Methods: A total of 19 patients who received 20 implants were included with 10 implants (MegaGen AnyRidge) were placed for each treatment, DZ and SS. Cast models were made at least 8 months after implant placement to assess the dimensional ridge changes by measuring the facial palatal ridge width on implant sites (T) at six designated points starting from gingival margin (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7) and comparing it with the corresponding measurement on contralateral tooth site (C). Results: All 20 placed implants demonstrated successful osseointegration and survived 9-24 months following implantation (survival rate 100%). Two out of ten cases of SS group presented with minor manageable complications of external shield exposure. DZ group showed an average facial-palatal reduction of nearly 0.3 mm; however, there were no significant differences between T and C (P =.47), while SS group revealed a mean gain in ridge contour of approximately 0.2 mm with also no significant differences existed between T and C (P = .64) in the 8-months follow-up. When comparing between the two treatments, there were significant differences in ridge width changes (P < .05), indicating better preservation of the ridge contour at 8-months for SS treatment.Conclusion: The socket shield immediate implant placement produced better preservation of the ridge contour at 8-months post-extraction; however, the dual-zone technique yielded non clinically significant reduction in the ridge contour at the same follow-up.
Comparing Dual-zone Immediate Implant Placement and Socket-shield Technique for Ridge Width Changes in Maxilla: a Prospective Cohort Study
