A Proposed Method for Assessing the Appropriate Timing of Early Implant Placements: A Case Report

Figure 1. Baseline image from an occlusal view before treatment (a) and intraoral X ray (b) of the maxillary left second premolar. Figure 2. Elevation of a mucoperiosteal flap upon tooth extraction (a) and 2 months later upon implant placement (b). Figure 3. Cone beam computerized tomography image 2 months after tooth extraction (a) and intraoral X ray after implant placement (b). Figure 4. Graphical representation and designation of the regions defined for the evaluation of blood flow measurements. Occlusal view (a) region of interest (ROI) A: extraction wound; ROI B: 1 mm wide circular area around ROI A; ROI C: 1 mm wide circular area around ROI B; ROI D: region covering the rest of the gingiva. Buccal view (b) ROI E: a region including a 2 mm wide section of the marginal gingiva; ROI F: a 2 mm wide apical extension to ROI E; ROI G: a 2 mm wide apical extension to ROI F, lying at the mucogingival junction.

Photographs in occlusal view and the corresponding laser speckle contrast images taken at priority time points of the study.

Figure 6. Gingival blood flow (GBF) expressed in laster speckle perfusion unit (LSPU) over time from baseline measurements (bsl) to day 62 postextraction. In the occlusal view (a) region of interest (ROI) A: extraction wound; ROI B: 1 mm wide circular area around ROI A; ROI C: 1 mm wide circular area around ROI B; ROI D: region covering the rest of the gingiva. In the buccal view (b) ROI E: a region including a 2 mm wide section of the marginal gingiva; ROI F: a 2 mm wide apical extension to ROI E; ROI G: a 2 mm wide apical extension to ROI F, lying at the mucogingival junction. Figure 7. Blood flow (in LSPU) over time—from the measurement immediately preceding implant placement (bsl2) to the 1-year follow-up. In the occlusal view (a) ROI B: 1 mm wide circular area around the healing cap; ROI C: 1 mm wide circular area around ROI B; ROI D: region covering the rest of the occlusal gingiva. In the buccal view (b) ROI E: a region including a 2 mm wide section of the most coronal gingiva; ROI F: a 2 mm wide apical extension to ROI E; ROI G: a 2 mm wide apical extension to ROI F, lying at the mucogingival junction.