Connective Tissue and Bone Grafting for Anterior Immediate Implant Placement: Crescent Graft

Immediate implant placement in a one-stage approach, with or without provisionalization, has proven to be advantageous in preserving gingival anatomy around dental implants. But placing implants immediately in the changing alveolar bone of an extraction socket can result in progressive recession of the gingival labial margin over the implant restoration. Thicker biotypes and bone of the labial periimplant tissue have been shown to promote long-term stable gingival margins. A surgically simple technique is presented here, utilizing crescent-shaped connective tissue and grafting to promote thicker labial bone and biotype. Surgical procedures as well as their biologic and clinical rationale are described. One-year postrestoration results showed stable labial gingival margins over the implant placed in one-stage approach. ---------------------------------------------------------------