Preserving Peri-Implant Soft Tissue Health: A Case Report on Immediate Implant Placement Using the Socket Shield Technique

Abstract

Alveolar bone resorption is a natural occurrence following tooth extraction, complicating the process of prosthetic rehabilitation with implants. Techniques such as socket preservation, atraumatic extraction, and immediate implant placement are employed to reduce the dimensional changes associated with extraction. The socket shield technique (SST) is effective in preserving the alveolar ridge's contour, enhancing the aesthetic results of rehabilitation by maintaining the integrity of the bundle bone complex even when the buccal bone is less than 1mm.  This case report presents a 23-year-old female patient with a fractured upper central incisor. The socket shield technique was chosen based on the clinical findings from the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. Immediate temporization was provided to preserve soft tissue integration. A comparison of the initial and subsequent cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans, along with clinical observations, suggests that the socket shield technique is a viable method for preserving both hard and soft tissue structures in the anterior dental region, thereby improving aesthetic outcomes.