Effect of Connective Tissue Graft Following Immediate Implant Placement on Esthetic Outcomes at Maxillary Central Incisor Sites: A Long-Term Cohort Study

The aim of this cohort study was to assess the effect of connective tissue graft (CTG) following immediate implant placement (IIP) at maxillary central incisors on esthetic outcomes, buccal bone thickness, soft tissue dimensional alterations, and patient-centered outcomes. Twenty-eight patients treated with IIP at maxillary central incisor sites with approximately 6 ± 4 years in function were divided according to the use of CTG (n = 17) or no CTG (n = 11). The primary variable of the study was the Pink and White Esthetic Score (PES/WES), evaluated in photographs taken before and after implant placement. The thickness of the buccal bone, midbuccal mucosal level (MBML) changes, and patient satisfaction were assessed and compared between the two groups. The results showed similar PES/WES before IIP between the CTG and no-CTG groups (13.5 ± 3.7 and 12.6 ± 3.2, respectively). After IIP, the PES/WES value in the CTG group was significantly higher (15 ± 2.5) than in the no-CTG group (12.1 ± 3.1) (P = .012). No significant differences in the buccal bone thickness, MBML, or patient satisfaction were observed in CTG and no-CTG groups. This study found that CTG following IIP and socket grafting promoted better esthetic outcomes.