Impact of immediate and non-immediate provisionalization on the soft tissue esthetics of final restorations on immediately placed implants

Abstract

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Interpoximal papilla could be re-established without immeidate support with a provisional resotration following an immdiate implant placement. PURPOSE: Successful esthetic outcomes were reported utilizing immediate provisionalization following immediate implant placements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the soft tissue esthetics around immediately placed single tooth implant restorations with or without immediate provisional restorations. METHODS: A total of ten patients, who had a hopeless maxillary anterior tooth, were enrolled in this study. Screw retained provisional restorations were delivered to the randomly chosen 5 patients (immediate provisionalization group) on the day of immediate implant placement and maintained for about 5 months. For the remaining five patients (non-immediate provisionalization group), healing abutments were delivered on the day of surgery, replaced with screw retained provisional restorations approximately 3 months afterwards, and the provisional restorations were maintained for about 3 months. Digital photographs were taken at the delivery of final restorations in order to assess following variables; mesial papilla, distal papilla, soft tissue level, soft tissue contour and facial soft tissue prominence. The variables were compared to those of the contralateral natural tooth and scored by prosthodontists, periodontists, orthodontists and dental students. RESULTS: The immediate provisionalization group marked significantly higher scores on the following variables; soft tissue level and facial soft tissue prominence. In evaluating each variable, there were no notable differences in opinion between four dentist groups. CONCLUSION: Immediate provisionalization can be a treatment option to achieve superior soft tissue esthetics around immediately placed single implant restorations rather than non-immediate provisionalization approaches