Placement of hydroxyapatite-coated implants into fresh or recent extraction sites.

Factors important in the placement of HA-coated dental implants in fresh or recent extraction sites are case selection, treatment planning, and surgical modifications. The importance of good periodontal health and effective oral hygiene cannot be over-emphasized. Technique variations include careful extraction of the tooth or teeth, use of a surgical guide stent to overcome the "guidance" of the sockets, placement of the implants at least 1 mm apical to the socket edges, use of grafting materials to fill residual voids adjacent to the cylindrical implants, and special soft tissue closure techniques. Guided tissue regeneration methods are often used to enhance wound closure and improve bone regeneration around the implants. Clinical results suggest that HA-coated implants clinically integrate equally well in both fresh sockets and healed edentulous areas. Clinicians can comfortably consider placement of HA-coated dental implants in fresh extraction sockets for their patients and can anticipate favorable results with the application provided that the proper principles are followed.