Abstract

Implant placement is often combined with contour augmentation surgery, involving flap elevation and material placement extending to the ridges of adjacent teeth. This study evaluated horizontal ridge dimensional changes and the stability of the implant site and adjacent teeth in the esthetic zone following early implant placement with contour augmentation. Twenty-one patients received maxillary incisor single implant placement with contour augmentation. Alginate impressions were taken before tooth extraction (T0) and at 1-year follow-up (T1), and stone casts were scanned using a desktop 3D scanner to generate stereolithography (STL) files. Horizontal ridge dimensions were measured at 0, 1, 3, and 5 mm below the mucosal margin at the groups of implant site (I), mesial tooth (MI), distal tooth (DI), and contralateral canine (C). Results indicated significant differences in ridge dimensions between T0 and T1 at the 3-mm and 5-mm levels in Group MI (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the four groups at any level.

Early implant placement with contour augmentation appeared to maintain the facial-palatal ridge dimension close to pre-extraction width, suggesting acceptable hard and soft tissue stability in the esthetic zone after 1 year, with no consistent adverse effects on ridges of adjacent teeth.