title: Early healing of implants placed into fresh extraction sockets: an experimental study in the beagle dog. III: soft tissue findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe histologically the early phases of soft tissue healing to implants placed into fresh extraction sockets.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 16 beagle dogs, 64 3.25-mm-wide cylindrical screw implants were inserted into the distal sockets of the third and fourth lower premolars using a one-stage trans-mucosal healing protocol. Biopsies were then taken at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks and prepared for histological examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-week specimens showed a junctional epithelium and an underlying loose connective tissue rich in inflammatory cells. At 2 weeks, signs of epithelial proliferation and a more organized connective tissue were observed. At 4 and 8 weeks, inflammation was absent; the epithelium appeared mature and in close contact with the surface of the healing abutment or the implant. The connective tissue was dense in an area close to the implant surface and the fibres were aligned parallel to the implant surface. The soft tissue dimensions at 8 weeks were approximately 5 mm, including about 3-3.5 mm of epithelium and 1-1.5 mm of connective tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soft tissue healing to implants placed in fresh extraction sockets may result in a longer epithelial interface than implants placed in a healed ridge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. fabiovignoletti@mac.com
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vignoletti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Sanctis
authors.forename: Tord
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berglundh
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000502:physiology*; D016348:Osseointegration; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*