Clinical and radiographic evaluation of jumping distance management using a collagen matrix in flapless immediate implant placement.

Background: Improvement in implant design has made implant dentistry a challenging treatment modality worldwide.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a xenogeneic collagen matrix in managing 3-4-millimeter gaps in flapless immediate implant placement.
Material and Methods: Twenty-two patients received 39 immediate implants via the flapless approach. Patients with intact bony walls, buccal bone thickness ≥2 mm and a jumping distance of 3-4 mm were included in this study. The gap between the implant and the socket walls was filled with a xenogeneic collagen matrix (Collacone®). The final clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at least 24 months following functional loading.
Results: There was no early or late failure, and the implants showed a 100% survival rate. The mean mesial (0.28 ±0.39 mm) and distal (0.28 ±0.39 mm) marginal bone loss (MBL) at the site of incisors was not significantly different from the values at the site of premolars and molars (0.30 ±0.42 mm and 0.34 ±0.48 mm, respectively). The evaluation of the implant success index (ISI) score revealed no difference between the mandible and the maxilla (p = 0.700), or incisors compared with premolars and molars (p = 0.420). The only significant difference was in terms of distal MBL, which was higher in the maxilla (0.39 ±0.49 mm) than in the mandible (0.12 ±0.23 mm) (p = 0.040).
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it seems that the application of a xenogeneic collagen matrix to manage 3-4-millimeter gaps in carefully selected cases may bring promising outcomes.