Incidence of Straight-Channel Screw-Retained Single Crown Following Immediate Implant Placement and Provisionalization in the Esthetic Zone: A CBCT Study.

PURPOSE The purpose of this cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study was to investigate the probability of using straight screw-channel screw-retained restorations following an immediate implant placement and provisionalization protocol in maxillary anterior teeth utilizing implant planning software. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of CBCT images was done. The midsagittal images of maxillary anterior teeth (right canine to left canine) were created in implant planning software, screen-captured, and transferred to a presentation program. The digital implant templates were created for 3.5-mm-diameter (used for central and lateral incisors) and 4.5-mm-diameter (used for central incisors and canines) tapered implants with lengths of 13, 15, and 18 mm. The frequency percentages of immediate implant placement and provisionalization and immediate implant placement and provisionalization with straight screw-channel screw-retained restorations were recorded and compared among all maxillary anterior teeth. RESULTS CBCT images from 1,200 teeth were evaluated. The overall frequency percentages of immediate implant placement and provisionalization and immediate implant placement and provisionalization with straight screw-channel screw-retained restoration were 84% (range = 74% to 92%) and 14% (range = 10% to 24%), respectively. CONCLUSION Although the probability of being able to employ immediate implant placement and provisionalization with a straight screw-channel screw-retained restoration in the esthetic zone is low, the use of smaller-diameter implants can substantially increase the probability.