Abstract
Background: Implant placement after single-tooth extraction in the esthetic zone may be a challenge for clinicians. Immediate placement with immediate restoration may represent a valuable alternative in order to obtain a positive esthetic outcome. In such situations, proper insertion torque represents a clinical need, and fully tapered implants have been shown to be beneficial, as they can provide high primary stability values. The aim of this case study was to assess the esthetic and radiological treatment outcomes following the placement of a fully tapered implant in immediate post-extraction sites with an immediate restoration of single-tooth gap replacement in the esthetic area. Methods: A total number of 24 consecutive patients requiring single-tooth implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation in the esthetic area, presenting an intact site, were selected. All implants were immediately restored using an immediate screw-retained prosthetic rehabilitation. Probing Depth (PD) and Bleeding on Probing (BoP) were assessed for four aspects of the implants and measured at 3 and 12 months, together with Marginal Bone Level (MBL), which was measured at day 0 (baseline) and at 3 and 12 months, while Pink Esthetic Score (PES) was measured at 0 (baseline) and 12 months. Results: PD at 3 months was 3.04 mm ± 0.69 mm, while at 12 months it was 2.82 mm ± 0.51 mm. MBL was 2.44 ± 0.64 mm at baseline, 2.25 ± 0.61 mm at 3 months, and 2.16 ± 0.60 mm at 12 months. PES was 11.08 ± 0.86 at baseline and 11.48 ± 0.77 at 12 months. Conclusions: Within the limits of the present study, immediate implant placement with immediate restoration seems to be a reliable procedure for replacing single teeth with a proper case selection.