Aesthetics and survival of immediately restored implants in partially edentulous anterior maxillary patients

This retrospective study was undertaken to determine survival rates and aesthetic outcomes of immediate placement of multiple implants at anterior maxilla sites. One hundred and eighteen implants placed in 39 patients (21 women and 18 men; average age 58.3 years) were immediately restored (24-72 h after placement). Aesthetic assessment, radiographic bone loss, and biological and prosthetic complications were evaluated. Data collection between 12 and 84 months (mean 32.2 ± 18) after final prosthetic installation revealed that no implants were lost, and that 106/118 (89.8%) implants had no more than 1.5 mm of bone loss by the end of the first year and an additional 0.2 mm for each successive year. The marginal bone loss was higher for extractions due to periodontitis compared to extractions due to caries (mean mesial loss of 1.37 mm vs. 1.01 mm, respectively, and mean distal loss of 1.37 mm and 0.99 mm, respectively, p = 0.001). The mesial papilla was present in 83/118 implants (70.3%), while the distal papilla was present in 76/118 implants (64.4%). The cervical metallic part of the abutment was exposed in 16/118 (13.5%) implants. There was a higher ratio of recessions and missing papillae in patients in whom the extractions were performed due to periodontal reasons. Within the limitations of the present study, aesthetic and radiographic parameters support immediate restoration of partially edentulous maxillae.