Buccal bone thickness at dental implants in the aesthetic zone: A 1-year follow-up cone beam computed tomography study.

Sufficient buccal bone thickness (BBT) is important for an optimal aesthetic outcome of implant treatment in the aesthetic zone. The aim of the study was to assess BBT at dental implants placed in the aesthetic zone (incisor, canine or first premolar in the maxilla) (immediate or delayed, with or without immediate provisionalization) with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a function of time. Eighty patients were divided into 4 groups according to size of the buccal bony defect (<5 or ≥5 mm) after removal of the tooth, and timing of implant placement and provisionalization. CBCTs were made 1 month and 1 year after placement of the implant crown. BBT varied from 0.79 mm to 2.12 mm at 1 month and from 0.71 mm to 2.04 mm at 1 year. Change of BBT between 1 month and 1 year was negligible. This study concluded that BBT at dental implants in the aesthetic zone appears to be stable for immediate and delayed placed implants after placement of the definitive crown, independent of the size of buccal bone defect prior to implant insertion and timing of provisionalization.