Immediate placement and restoration of implants combined with guided bone regeneration to rehabilitate the partially edentulous anterior mandible. A retrospective clinical study with an up to 8-year follow-up

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to determine the survival and aesthetic outcomes of implants immediately placed and restored in the anterior mandible. Materials and Methods: The study included 75 implants that were inserted along with guided bone regeneration in 42 patients. Over a follow-up period of 3 to 8 years (mean of 6.95 ± 1.78 years), the study evaluated aesthetic, marginal bone loss (MBL), and biological and prosthetic complications. Results: No failures were recorded during the follow-up period; after eight years, the survival rate was 100%. Peri-implantitis was diagnosed in 6/29 (20.7%). Patient's age and gender did not have a statistically significant impact on MBL, but smokers had a greater MBL than non-smokers at the 8-year (2.98mm vs. 1.23mm, respectively, p = 0.016) time-point. At 3 years, only 13.3% of the implants had mesial papillae, 36.0% had distal papillae, and 16.0% had the cervical metallic part of the abutment exposed. Peri-implantitis was diagnosed in 20.7% of the patients at the 8-year follow-up time. Conclusions: Immediate placement and restoration can be considered a feasible treatment option for replacing hopeless anterior mandibular teeth, provided that certain prerequisites are met. However, complete papillae formation may not be achieved. Clinical relevance: Long-term evidence, on the feasibility of immediate implant placement and restoration of the mandibular incisors . Particulate FDBA material and collagen membranes promoted successful wound healing in a trans-gingival environment. Nevertheless, complete papillae formation is not a feasible outcome.