Managing cases

Immediate implant placement and immediate restorations have been demonstrated to be predictable treatment methods. For the patient, an immediate approach means less treatment time and fewer surgical interventions.

“An immediate approach means less treatment time and fewer surgical interventions”

But to what extent should an immediate approach be the preferred option? Can indications and contra-indications for these procedures be clearly defined? Will there be a biological price to pay in the long-term for going faster?

The morphological changes which take place in the alveolus following tooth extraction have been extensively studied, and this knowledge should be applied to clinical cases. The tissue outcomes in thin versus thick phenotypes should be considered. We need to know if it is possible to predict how much buccal bone is going to be lost and whether a late or immediate approach can really make a difference regarding these changes.