RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: A sloped shoulder might improve the congruence between extraction socket and dental implant and may add to a better circumferential support of the peri-implant structures. Therefore, this study evaluates the 3-year clinical outcome (survival and success rates, marginal bone levels, and Pink Esthetic Score (PES)) of immediately inserted and provisionalized OsseoSpeed(™) Profile implants in the anterior maxilla. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one implants were inserted in 16 patients. All implants were immediately placed into extraction sites with and without facial bone deficiencies. A flapless procedure was utilized, and the implants were provisionalized immediately. Facial gaps were grafted with autogenous bone chips from the mandibular ramus. Implant survival and success, the interproximal bone levels, the thickness of the facial bony wall, and the PES were evaluated. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 43 months, 19 implants were still in function. One patient with 1 implant did not follow the study protocol (dropout) and 1 implant was lost at 10 weeks. Interproximal marginal bone levels measured -0.2 ± 0.4 mm (range, -1.0-0.4 mm) apical to the implant shoulder. The mean PES ratings were 11.9 ± 1.4 (range, 8-14) at the final examination. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and radiographic results provide evidence that sloped implants can preserve the marginal bone circumferentially and are able to maintain soft tissue esthetics when inserted and provisionalized immediately, even in the presence of facial bony wall defects.
