One-stage laser-microtextured implants immediately placed in the inter-radicular septum of molar fresh extraction sockets associated with GBR technique. A case series study

Background: The outcome of one-stage trans-mucosal immediate implants with simultaneous guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique has become highly predictable. Furthermore, when this approach is performed to place one-stage implants into the inter-radicular septum of fresh extraction sockets in the molar region, the risk of incorrect emergence profile and off-angle loading is reduced. The aim of the present study was to clinically evaluate the horizontal hard and soft tissue changes, and radiographically the vertical socket walls remodeling, and the early peri-implant marginal bone loss (EMBL) following the placement of immediate one-stage implants in the inter-radicular septum of molar fresh extraction sockets, associated with a collagen membrane. Materials and methods: Twenty patients were selected to receive a one-stage implant with laser-microtextured collar surface into the inter-radicular septum of a fresh molar extraction sockets, associated with a simultaneous placement of a collagen membrane. Intraoral radiographs and model casts were used for the evaluation. Correlation between the amount of the keratinized tissue thickness (KTT) with EMBL was also analyzed. Results: After 4 months, the vertical radiographic mesial and distal EMBL around implants was of 0.06 ±0.01 mm and 0.04±0.02 mm, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between T0 and T1 (P > 0.05). No statistical differences were found also for each radiographic measure used for the examination of implant sites vertical bone changes (p > 0.05). Clinically, horizontal changes of the bucco-lingual central width were found statistically significant (p < 0.05), whereas no statistical differences were found for bucco-lingual mesial and distal width changes (p > 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant correlation between EMBL and the amount of KTT was found (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Results suggest that the immediate placement of one-stage laser-microtextured implants could provide advantages in preserving the extraction socket's hard and soft tissue remodeling, and the peri-implant marginal bone level before the prosthetic loading.