Dimensional Alterations Following Immediate Implant Placement Using the Socket-Shield Technique in the Anterior Maxilla: A Case Series.

Tissue volume loss after tooth extraction is an esthetic challenge. The socket-shield technique (SST) has been used to compensate it with promising results but limited evidence. This prospective study aims to present the dimensional changes after SST. Ten consecutive patients with an anterior hopeless tooth to be extracted and an immediate implant placed using the SST were prospectively enrolled. An impression and a CBCT scan were taken prior to surgery and 6 months later. Models were scanned, and DICOM and STL (standard tessellation language) files were superimposed and analyzed by software to measure the dimensional differences. Five patients could be evaluated for bone alterations and 9 for soft tissue alterations. The mean horizontal shrinkage of the buccal bone plate at 1 mm from the most coronal part was -0.22 ± 0.13 mm in the CBCT analysis. The mean volume loss in the region of interest was -2.94 ± 2.45 mm3, with a mean change in soft tissue contours of -0.49 ± 0.41 mm between pre- and postoperative analysis. SST limited the buccal contour loss after tooth extraction and may be considered a potential option to prevent volume loss in immediate implant placement. Further standardization in the digital measurement method is still needed.