Long-Term Peri-implant Health and Papilla Formation at Healed Sites with Chairside Provisionalization of Single-Tooth Implants: A Prospective Case Series.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of immediate provisionalization of single-tooth implants at healed sites for peri-implant soft-tissue conditions, focusing on papilla formation around single implants.

Materials and methods: In total, 12 patients received a total of 12 implants in the incisor, canine, or premolar region of the maxilla or mandible at healed sites with immediate chairside provisionalization. After 4 months, the temporary crown was replaced with the permanent crown. After 40 ± 13.1 months, clinical follow-up was conducted, assessing probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), mucosal recession (MR), and width of keratinized mucosa (KM). Papilla index (PI) was determined immediately after implant placement (t0), before removing the temporary crown (t1), 4 weeks after delivery of the definitive crown (t2), and at the final follow-up examination (t3) to evaluate papilla formation and its change over time.

Results: None of the implants were lost. The mean PPD was 2.5 ± 0.39 mm, and BoP of 25% and 3.5 mm of KM were observed at the final follow-up. No implants showed MR. PI increased in all patients from 1.5 ± 0.45 at t0 to 2.4 ± 0.56 at t1, 2.6 ± 0.47 at t2, and 3.0 ± 0 at t3. The increase in PI between t0 and each individual timepoint from t1 to t3 showed statistical significance.

Conclusions: The present results indicate the suitability and benefit of immediate provisionalization to achieve favorable peri-implant soft tissue conditions and papilla formation.