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Dennis P. Tarnow, DDS/Stephen J. Chu, DMD, MSD, CDT/Maurice A. Salama, DMD/Christian F.J. Stappert, DDS, MS, PhD/Henry Salama, DMD/David A. Garber, DDS, BDS/Guido O. Sarnachiaro, DDS/Evangelina Sarnachiaro, DDS/Sergio Luis Gotta, DDS/Hanae Saito, DDS, MS: The dental literature has reported vertical soft tissue changes that can occur with immediate implant placement, bone grafting, and provisional restoration ranging from a gain or loss of 1.0 mm. However, little is known of the effects of facial-palatal collapse of the ridge due to these clinical procedures. Based upon treatment modalities rendered, an ensuing contour change can occur with significant negative esthetic consequences. The results of a retrospective clinical cohort study evaluating the change in horizontal ridge dimension associated with implant placement in anterior postextraction sockets are presented for four treatment groups: (1) group no BGPR = no bone graft and no provisional restoration; (2) group PR = no bone graft, provisional restoration; (3) group BG = bone graft, no provisional restoration; and (4) group BGPR = bone graft, provisional restoration. Bone grafting at the time of implant placement into the gap in combination with a contoured healing abutment or a provisional restoration resulted in the smallest amount of ridge contour change. Therefore, it is recommended to place a bone graft and contoured healing abutment or provisional restoration at the time of flapless postextraction socket implant placement. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2014;34:323331. doi: 10.11607/prd.1821)
Tarnow et al. (Thu,) studied this question.