Successful Implant Rehabilitation Following Failed Root Canal Treatment Using Ridge Preservation and Delayed Implant Placement: A Case Report.

Dental implants have become a predictable treatment option for replacing teeth with an unfavorable prognosis. When extraction of a failed endodontically treated tooth is indicated, preservation of the alveolar ridge is essential to minimize post-extraction bone resorption and facilitate future implant placement. This case report describes the successful rehabilitation of a mandibular first molar following extraction, ridge preservation, delayed implant placement, and definitive prosthetic restoration using a digital workflow. A 68-year-old male patient presented with a previously endodontically treated mandibular first molar (tooth #19) exhibiting persistent periapical pathology and an unfavorable long-term prognosis. Following clinical and radiographic evaluation, the tooth was atraumatically extracted. Ridge preservation was performed using deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) (techBiomat bone®, Technology in Biomaterials S.L., Barcelona, Spain) covered with a resorbable collagen membrane, and primary closure was achieved using 3-0 resorbable catgut sutures. After a three-month healing period, adequate bone regeneration was confirmed clinically and radiographically, allowing placement of a 5.0 × 14 mm Straumann dental implant with a healing abutment. Following an additional three months to allow complete osseointegration and soft tissue maturation, the restorative phase was initiated using a digital intraoral scan with a scan body to fabricate a definitive implant-supported crown. Final clinical and radiographic evaluation demonstrated successful osseointegration, healthy peri-implant soft tissues, appropriate marginal adaptation, stable crestal bone levels, satisfactory occlusion, and favorable esthetic and functional outcomes. This case highlights the clinical predictability of ridge preservation using DBBM and a resorbable collagen membrane prior to delayed implant placement and demonstrates the successful integration of contemporary digital restorative techniques for implant-supported rehabilitation in an older adult male patient.