Dimensional changes in buccopalatal alveolar bone following immediate implant placement in the anterior maxilla: a retrospective study.

This retrospective study examines the factors influencing bone thickness buccal to the implant (BTFU) and alveolar width at follow up (AW1) in immediate implant placement procedures in the upper aesthetic zone. After reviewing university records, thirty patients who underwent immediate implant placement before 2020 were recruited for cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans. Variables such as buccal gap, alveolar width, and buccal bone plate thickness were measured at T0 (pre-extraction) and T1 (study follow up). The results indicated significant effects of the type of bone graft used, buccal gap, alveolar width, and thickness of the buccal plate on BTFU and AW1. The study also showed non-linear relationships between the ratio of buccal gap to thickness of buccal plate (BG/TBP) and the outcome variables. This research provides insights into the complex interplay of these factors, which may guide clinicians in optimising immediate implant placement procedures for better aesthetic and functional outcomes.