STUDY OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

This study investigated whether immediate placement confers any advantage over delayed placement with respect to implant survival (primary outcome), peri-implant health, patient-reported satisfaction (VAS) and oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP-14). This study included 220 patients with missing teeth, randomly divided into a control group (n = 110) and an observation group (n = 110) using a random number table (block = 10, concealed allocation). The control group received delayed implants, while the observation group received immediate implants. Outcomes measured included implant survival rate, periodontal indexes (PD, mPLI, mSBI), aesthetic evaluation (PES, WES), quality of life (OHIP-14), and patient satisfaction (VAS). Attachment level in the satisfaction assessment refers to the perceived gingival margin position relative to the restoration, evaluated subjectively by patients using a visual analogue scale rather than clinical probing measurements.

RESULTS

• At 1 year, implant survival rates were 95.45% in the immediate group versus 92.73%  in the delayed group, with no statistically significant difference
• The observation group demonstrated significantly lower mean values compared to the control group for PD, mPLI, and mSBI. The PES total scores were significantly higher in the observation group than the control group, as were WES total.
• After 1 year of implantation, OHIP-14 total scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group.
• The satisfaction scores for Attachment Level, Colour, and Chewing Function were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (all P 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that immediate implantation may offer clinical advantages in early functional and aesthetic outcomes without compromising implant survival, providing patients with reduced treatment duration and improved peri-implant tissue preservation.

Adapted from Y Yang et al., Oral Health Prev Dent. 2026 Feb 10:24:77-88, for more info about this publication, click HERE

This review is part of the Straumann "Scientific Highlights Newsletter 2/26".