Socket seal surgery combined with immediate implant placement: a novel approach for single-tooth replacement.

Guided bone regeneration procedures around immediately placed implants may result in well-osseointegrated fixtures, but because of complexed flap manipulation, the functional, phonetic, and esthetic result may be unsatisfactory, especially when performed in the maxillary anterior region of the mouth. For better results a modified ridge preservation technique, called "socket seal surgery," which combines bone and soft tissue grafting and is performed prior to implant placement has been suggested. A novel approach is presented in which socket seal surgery is performed simultaneously with implant placement to achieve optimal replacement of an extracted maxillary anterior tooth.