Long-Term Clinical and Esthetic Stability of Inverted Body-Shift Implants in the Maxillary Esthetic Zone: A 6-Year Prospective Study

This prospective, single-arm observational cohort study evaluated 6-year outcomes of inverted body-shift implants placed in the maxillary esthetic zone. Twenty-six patients received twenty-six implants (19 immediate placements, 7 in healed ridges). Buccal grafting was performed in twenty sites (12 xenograft, 8 allograft) and omitted in six. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scanning were used to measure buccal-bone thickness and soft-tissue stability at baseline, 18-24 months, and 74-84 months. All implants survived (100%) at a mean follow-up of 80.0 ± 6.7 months, and no major complications were reported. Mean labial plate remodeling after six years was -0.27 mm (L1) and -0.37 mm (L2). Pink Esthetic Scores (PES) averaged 12.8, with 15 implants scoring >13. Within the limitations of this small, uncontrolled cohort and descriptive design, these findings suggest favorable long-term survival and maintenance of hard- and soft-tissue contours associated with inverted body-shift implants placed in the anterior maxilla. However, causal inferences and claims of superior or definitive long-term stability should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in larger controlled comparative studies.