Pink Esthetic Score Around Single-Tooth Implant Crowns After Socket-Shield Technique: A Prospective Cohort Study

Esthetics is important for any dental implant but crucial for implants in the anterior region. Restorations in this region are demanding, and the goal of re-establishing an attractive smile without revealing differences from natural teeth is hard to achieve. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical success of the socket shield technique regarding soft tissue stability and overall esthetic outcome. Pink esthetic scores (PESs) were collected at two time points (T1-6 months and T2-6 years) by three different specialists. This prospective cohort clinical study involved 30 patients, of whom seven were women (mean age of patients, 42.3 years). There were no significant differences in PES values assessed by the oral surgeon and prosthodontics (P > 0.05) at both time points. The periodontists found differences in PES values between T1 and T2 (P < 0.05), but they were modest in value. Analyses of each individual variable at given time intervals revealed significant differences in the shape of the distal papillae (χ2 = 6.182, P < 0.05) and soft tissue margin level (χ2 = 6.507, P < 0.05). The results suggest that this technique is promising for implant placement in the esthetic zone. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. doi: 10.11607/prd.