Effectiveness and clinical performance of early implant placement for the replacement of single teeth in anterior areas: A systematic review

Aim To assess the effectiveness and clinical performance of early implant placement, 4-8 (Type 2) or 12-16 weeks (Type 3) after extraction, in single anterior sites. Methods Studies reporting on Type 2 and Type 3 implant placement were identified. Findings were summarized in evidence tables. Main outcome was implant survival. Peri-implant soft and hard tissues changes, periodontal parameters, aesthetics and patient-reported outcomes were also evaluated. Quality of reporting of the included studies was evaluated through Consort, Newcastle-Ottawa scale and IHE quality appraisal checklist. Results Nineteen eligible articles (seven from one RCT, three from two CCTs and nine from three case series) reporting on 140 patients and 140 implants were included. Type 3 implants showed comparable results to Type 4: 95% vs. 100% survival rates. Studies reported high values of implant survival, minimal technical and biological complications and high aesthetic scores in both short and long-term follow-ups for both Type 2 and Type 3 implant placement. Quality evaluation highlighted important weaknesses in the included trials. Conclusions Limited data on Type 2 and Type 3 implant placement appear to indicate that they can perform well both short and long term. However, the limited number of cases, the significant heterogeneity of the included studies and the high risk of biases importantly reduce the generalizability of the findings. CRD42018117363.