Pontic site development with an implant submergence technique for unaesthetic implant in the anterior maxilla

Abstract

Improving implant esthetics is very difficult, especially in cases where unaesthetic problems are related to implants in the maxillary anterior dentition. A 69-year old male patient was referred by a prosthodontist for periodic pus discharge and an unaesthetic implant prosthesis (maxillary right lateral incisor). The implant was placed too deeply and showed soft tissue volume deficiency and a long clinical crown. After a clinical and radiographic examination, implant submergence and alveolar ridge augmentation were performed to enhance the aesthetics instead of an explantation. The treatment plan was as follows: extraction the adjacent teeth with tooth mobility, secondary caries, and poor prognosis; placement an additional dental implant with hard and soft tissue grafting; fabrication a fixed bridge using implant abutments. A fixed esthetic prosthesis using implants was fabricated, and the patient was satisfied with the prosthesis. A ridge augmentation with implant submergence may be an alternative for solving the problems of unaesthetic implant restorations in the esthetic zone.