Radiographic Evaluation of Immediate Versus Delayed Placement of Dental Implants

The region of the anterior teeth is frequently affected by a significant degree of atrophy immediately postextraction. Objective: to compare the bone healing and crestal bone changes following the immediate (Im) versus delayed (De) placement of titanium dental implants in extraction sockets. Methods: Forty-nine patients (28 women, 21 men), who needed implant treatment at the incisor, canine, or premolar regions of the maxilla or mandible. Twenty three subjects received 37 Im implants and 26 subjects received 37 De implants. The implants were placed immediately in the fresh sockets following the extraction in the Im group & approximately 6 months after extraction in the De group. The width and depth of the marginal bone defects mesially & distally to the implants were evaluated radiographically by using a computer program designed for measuring distances in the digitized radiographs. Results: In the Im group, the mean reduction over time amounted to 48% (from 3.4 to 1.3 mm) was statistically significant (P <0.05) when tested by sample t-test. In the De group, the mean reduction over time amounted to 17% (from 2.1 to 1.9 mm). Conclusions: New bone formation occurs in defects associated with immediately placed implants in extraction sockets better than De implant; the main advantage of the Im implantaion is the saving of clinical time and preservation of bone volume. (Supported by Vot F0505/2005A, University of Malaya).