Immediate Restoration of Single Implants Placed Immediately After Implant Removal. A Case Report

The purpose of this case report is to describe the treatment of implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and immediately restored in cases of failure. A healthy 58-year-old nonsmoking man was referred for an implant that had lost osseointegration because of infection. The prosthesis showed slight mobility. It was therefore decided to remove the implant and replace it with a new one immediately. Since the patient refused to wear a provisional removable prosthesis, the possibility of applying an immediate loading protocol was discussed. The failed implant was removed carefully and the residual extraction socket was thoroughly debrided. Subsequently, the new implant was placed with a sterile surgical technique, as described by the manufacturer. The inserted implant had a titanium plasma-sprayed surface. Immediately following implant placement and with the patient still under local anesthesia, the initial restorative treatment began. The patient was placed on a strict follow-up regimen until soft tissue healing was complete. Subsequent follow-up examinations were performed after 12 months. At each recall, the patient underwent a thorough clinical and radiographic evaluation. The healing period proceeded smoothly. At the end of the follow-up period, the implant was asymptomatic, immobile, and osseointegrated. No peri-implant bony defects were observed on probing. The results of the present case report seem to suggest that implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and restored immediately might provide a valid treatment option for the treatment of failed implants. (Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2010;30:639-645.)