A prospective cohort study of immediate implantation and delayed implantation for a labial bony dehiscence defect in the maxillary aesthetic area

To investigate the effect of immediate and delayed implant placement on dimensional changes in hard and soft tissues as well as esthetic outcomes.

A total of 40 maxillary single anterior teeth with a dehiscence defect on the labial bone (≤4 mm) were categorized into two groups according to the timing of implant placement: immediate implant placement (n = 20) or delayed implant placement (n = 20). Guided bone regeneration (GBR) was conducted at the sites using a flap approach, and the implants were given immediate provisionalization. Implant survival rates, dimensional changes in hard and soft tissues during the six- and twelve-month follow-ups, and pink esthetic scores (PESs) were measured.

The implant survival rates in both groups were 100%, and no complications occurred during the follow-up time. There was no significant difference between the two groups at the measurement sites in the dimensional change of hard and soft tissues during the six- and twelve-month follow-ups. The largest resorption was observed at the implant neck, with a loss of (1.29 ± 0.71) mm in the immediate implant placement group and (1.43 ± 0.19) mm in the delayed implant placement group. The mean PES scores were (10.95 ± 1.51) for the immediate implant placement group and (11.05 ± 1.23) for the delayed implant placement group.

Immediate implantation or delayed implantation combined with GBR and immediate provisionalization might both be a prospective treatment strategy for a maxillary single anterior tooth with a dehiscence defect on the labial bone.