Immediate implant placement: a procedure without incisions.

Primary socket closure in immediate implantation may be difficult, due to the opening left by the extracted tooth. The absolute need for bone augmentation and primary flap closure for implants placed into fresh extraction sites has never been proven. The hypothesis of the present study was that immediate implants can succeed without primary flap closure. A technique that does not require any incisions during immediate implant placement is described. No barrier membranes were used and the sole grafting material used were autogenous bone chips. Full soft tissue coverage was achieved 1 week to 2 months postimplantation. Clinical osseointegration was achieved with minimal gingival recession and papillae preservation. Immediate implant placement in the anterior maxilla can be successful for replacing a single tooth even without primary closure.