Zottegem

Researchers are evaluating how well immediate dental implant placement works in the front upper jaw (premaxilla) using flapless guided surgery combined with bone and soft tissue augmentation and immediate provisional crowns. This study aims to assess the safety, esthetic results, and how much buccal bone thickness remains one year after implant placement 1 mm below the implant shoulder. Secondary goals include evaluating patient pain, healing, esthetics, complications over five years, marginal bone loss, peri-implant health, and soft tissue changes over one and five years. The study compares results between patients with intact and damaged bone sockets. Participants will receive an immediate dental implant and temporary crown on the same day as tooth extraction. The surgery is flapless and guided by a surgical guide made from 3D radiographs and digital impressions. Bone grafting and a connective tissue graft from the palate will be used to support the implant site. Medication with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories is given before and for four days after surgery. Follow-up visits occur at one week, three months, one year, and five years, with X-rays, digital scans, and photos taken to monitor bone and soft tissue changes. During the study, patients will answer questions about pain and esthetic satisfaction. At one year and five years, assessments include esthetic satisfaction ratings, CBCT scans for bone thickness, intra-oral radiographs for bone loss, probing for peri-implant health, clinical photos, and digital impressions to measure soft tissue changes. Researchers will monitor safety and healing throughout the study to understand the long-term effects of this treatment approach.

Researchers are evaluating two types of membranes used in guided bone regeneration for patients needing a single dental implant in the front upper jaw (anterior maxilla) after tooth extraction. The study focuses on patients whose bone has shrunk too much to support an implant properly, comparing a resorbable collagen membrane and a non-resorbable titanium reinforced d-PTFE membrane to see which better supports bone regrowth. This is a randomized controlled trial measuring bone width changes over time and other clinical and esthetic outcomes. During the procedure, a flap is created in the gum, and bone chips taken from the patient are mixed with a bone graft material and placed at the implant site. Either a collagen membrane or a titanium reinforced membrane is then fixed over this area to protect and support new bone growth. The collagen membrane naturally dissolves over time, while the titanium membrane is removed after 9 months before implant placement. Patients receive antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication starting before surgery and continuing for 7 days, with sutures removed after 2 weeks. Implants are placed 9 months after the initial procedure following 3D planning. Participants will undergo multiple 3D scans (CBCT) to measure horizontal bone dimensions before surgery, immediately after membrane placement, and at 9 months, 3 years, and 5 years. Researchers will also monitor membrane exposures, bone quality, need for additional grafting or soft tissue treatment, implant health, and esthetic results. Some participants will have bone samples analyzed microscopically. The study involves follow-up visits over 5 years to assess long-term success and safety.