Purpose: The study investigated the cumulative survival rate (CSR) and marginal bone loss (MBL) of single implants immediately placed and restored with two-unit cantilevered fixed dental prostheses after extraction of two adjacent mandibular incisors with a compromised periodontal condition. Materials and methods: Patients in need of extraction and replacement of two adjacent mandibular incisors due to advanced periodontal loss of attachment were treated consecutively. Following a flapless procedure, a single implant was inserted at the time of extraction in one of the two fresh alveoli sockets and immediately restored with a screw retained two-unit provisional FDP. The area of extraction was grafted using xenograft particulate material. Peri-implant soft tissue and hard tissue condition at the last follow-up appointment, marginal bone loss at the last follow-up appointment at least 1 year after the delivery of the final prosthesis, and the final aesthetic result were evaluated. Results: Twenty patients were recruited between January 2014 and December 2019 in a single private practice and each received single implants and immediate provisional restoration with a two-unit cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis. Patients were followed for 22 to 94 months (average follow-up = 4 years) and none of the implants failed resulting in 100% CSR. Cumulative MBL -measured using the VixWin Platinum software -was 1.08 +/- 0.35. A lower MBL was observed in the presence of platform switching (0.63 +/- 0.11 mm) compared to the absence of platform switching (1.27 +/- 0.20 mm). Conclusions: The preliminary results obtained from this study suggest that patients in need of replacing two adjacent periodontally compromised mandibular incisors can be treated with an immediately inserted and restored single implant.
Keywords: mandibular incisor, narrow implants, immediate restoration, partial edentulism, immediate placement