#Immediacy 10. May 2023

Immediate placement: Save time and preserve precious tissues

Depending on the placement and restoration protocol chosen, the duration of implant treatments can vary substantially. A two-stage delayed placement protocol with conventional definitive loading (Type 3C) may take up to two years (Fig. 1). In contrast, an immediate-immediate procedure (Type 1A) with, in most cases temporary, restoration can be feasible with no delay, i.e., on the day of surgery. Fabrication of the final restoration will then be scheduled to suit the individual situation. Patients benefit from less surgery and lower costs, while clinicians take advantage from more efficient workflows (2).

Fig. 1: Treatment duration and number of visits can be significantly reduced with immediate or early placement and restorative protocols

(with courtesy of Leziy/Miller, taken from here).

To preserve precious tissues and meet patient expectations implants should be placed within the first four months after tooth extraction. According to the latest ITI consensus paper, this is “due to the risk of alveolar resorption and reduction in bone volume, as well as the extended treatment time” for Type 4 placement (6 months or later)1, 3. Alternatively, a post-extraction (Type 1) or early (Type 2 or 3) implant insertion is preferable. Decisions will depend on diagnostic findings, e.g. as proposed in the SAC classification by the International Team for Implantology (ITI), and on the clinical expertise of the team4-6.

According to recent conference presentations, immediate placement can be indicated in sockets with more than 50% intact walls and thick biotypes. Risk factors include a non-optimal implant diameter or situations where primary stability requires a prosthetically non-optimal implant position (Dr Frank Schwarz, Germany, presentation at the Europerio 2022). According to Dr Ronald Jung (Switzerland) dedicated tissue level implants (Straumann® TLX, details see below) are optimized for immediate protocols in posterior areas.

Moreover, clinicians should be aware that physiological soft tissue thickening after extractions may mask an extended bone defect in patients with thin soft tissue types7. Therefore soft tissue or GBR augmentations are often indicated in connection with immediate or early implant placement4. For these indications different xenogeneic (e.g. Straumann® Xeno Graft) or allogenic grafting materials are available, which can be complemented by, e.g., the flexible Jason® collagen membrane.

Fig. 2: Both the Straumann® BLX (Bone Level) and Straumann® TLX (Tissue Level) Implant Systems have an identical deeply structured endosteal thread macro design. There is only one surgical tray for both systems, which allows to adapt the protocol to the intra-operative situation.

Implant systems designed for stability

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