RESUMO
PURPOSES: To examine differences between immediate and delayed dental implant loading in maxillary aesthetic areas. METHODS: In this retrospective controlled analysis, 43 subjects who underwent immediate placement of the dental implant in a post-extraction socket were ranked into either immediate (24 implants loaded with non-occlusal tooth-like profile provisional prostheses fabricated by virtual diagnostic impressions and an in-office dental milling machine) or delayed group (19 implants loaded with conventional cover screws and secondary intention healing). Intraoperatively and then four months later, scans of the external layers were acquired with an optical scanner. The width of the alveolar crest and Jemt papilla index were acquired. Non-parametric tests were applied with a level of significance set at p < 0.01. RESULTS: In both groups, the volumes and areas showed significant reductions from the baseline to the 4-month survey. Reductions in volume appeared to be statistically different between the two groups (-39±31 mm3 for the immediate and 89 ± 30 mm3 for the delayed group). The final Jemt papilla index appeared significantly different between the immediate (mesial, 2.5 and, distal, 3) and delayed groups (2 for both aspects). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate provisionalization significantly reduced volume loss and area shrinkage at the external layer when data were compared to a delayed rehabilitation strategy.