title: Esthetic Outcomes of Immediately Loaded Locking Taper Implants in the Anterior Maxilla: A Case Series Study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the esthetic outcome of single-tooth locking taper connection implants placed in the anterior maxilla following a postextractive nonfunctional loading protocol. This preliminary clinical study involving 16 patients evaluated the results of 21 implants placed in areas with high esthetic value. For each implant the pink esthetic score, white esthetic score, cumulative survival rate, and health status of peri-implant tissues were evaluated. The cumulative survival rate was 100% 2 years after prosthetic loading, and the mean total pink esthetic score/white esthetic score was 16.9 ± 1.14 on a maximum value of 20. There was excellent plaque control in all patients, and inflammation indices were within the norm. Within the limits of this study, this immediate nonfunctional loading protocol seems to be a successful procedure esthetically and for the maintenance of peri-implant soft tissues.
authors.affiliation: 1   Clinic of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: 1   Clinic of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corrocher
authors.affiliation: 1   Clinic of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pighi
authors.affiliation: 1   Clinic of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mascellaro
authors.affiliation: 2   School of Dentistry, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marincola
authors.affiliation: 1   Clinic of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Per Francesco
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Nocini
mesh_terms: D003442:Crowns; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D008437:Maxilla; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: immediate loading protocol; pink esthetic score; single-tooth locking taper implants; white esthetic score