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Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate interproximal papillae and clinical crown height following the placement of single-tooth implants according to early and delayed protocols. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients were randomly allocated to either the 'early' group or the 'delayed' group. They were treated with a single-tooth acid-etched Osseotite implant in the maxillary or mandibular anterior or premolar region an average of 10 days (in the case of early placement) or 3 months (in the case of delayed placement) following tooth extraction. Interproximal papilla dimensions and clinical crown height were evaluated using a score index in 39 patients who attended a follow-up visit 16 to 18 months after prosthesis delivery. The patients were evaluated in photographs taken 1 week after crown placement (baseline) and approximately 1.5 years after crown placement (follow-up). Results: It was demonstrated by logistic regression the risk of presenting no papilla or a negative papilla was 7 times greater at baseline for delayed cases than for early cases (33% versus 8%). However, the soft tissue fill in the proximal spaces improved significantly from baseline to the 1.5 year follow-up in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups found at follow-up. The papilla height almost 2 years after implant placement was inversely correlated with patient age. The clinical crown height was acceptable in significantly more cases in the early group than in the delayed group at follow-up. Half of the crowns in the delayed group exhibited an inappropriate height; of these, almost two thirds were assessed to be too short. Discussion and Conclusion: Early placement of single-tooth implants may be preferable to delayed implant placement technique in terms of early generation of interproximal papillae and the achievement of an appropriate clinical crown height, but no difference in papilla dimensions was seen at 1.5 years after seating of the implant crown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare bone healing and crestal bone changes following immediate (Im) versus delayed (De) placement of titanium dental implants with acid-etched surfaces (Osseotite) in extraction sockets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients were randomly allocated to the Im or De group (n = 23 per group) and received 1 implant at the incisor, canine, or premolar region of the maxilla or the mandible. The implants were placed an average of 10 days following tooth extraction in the Im group and approximately 3 months after extraction in the De group. The widths (parallel and perpendicular to the implant) and the depth of marginal bone defects around the implants were measured clinically just after placement and 3 months later at the abutment surgery. The crestal bone changes mesially and distally to the implants were evaluated radiographically by linear measurements. RESULTS: The survival rates were 91% in the Im group and 96% in the De group. In the Im group, the mean reductions in parallel width, perpendicular width, and depth of the largest defect of each implant amounted to 48% (from 4.4 to 2.3 mm), 59% (from 2.2 to 0.9 mm), and 48% (from 6.9 to 3.6 mm), respectively. The corresponding mean reductions in the De group amounted to 39% (from 3.1 to 1.9 mm), 77% (from 1.3 to 0.3 mm), and 34% (from 4.4 to 2.9 mm). The reduction over time was statistically significant in both groups (P < .04). For both groups, a higher degree of bone healing was achieved in the infrabony defects (> 60% for depth) than in dehiscence-type defects (approximately 25%). Furthermore, 70% of the 3-wall infrabony defects with a parallel width of up to 5 mm, a depth of maximum 4 mm, and a perpendicular width of maximum 2 mm had a capacity of spontaneous healing within a period of 3 months. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: New bone formation occurs in infrabony defects associated with immediately placed implants in extraction sockets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]