Methods: The study included forty-nine patients (28 women, 21 men), who needed implant treatment at the anterior teeth region 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 of bone defect 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).
Conclusion: Bone healing and remodeling takes place potentially in the fresh extraction socket defects associated with immediately placed implants. The main advantage of the immediate implantation is saving of clinical time and preservation of alveolar bone volume.