The importance of the 'magic square' in immediate implant placement and provisionalization in postextraction sites. A case series

Abstract

With changing expectations for dental treatment, esthetics have become an essential factor in defining successful rehabilitation with dental implants. The stability of the gingival contours as well as the color and texture of the surrounding tissue are critical for the long-term maintenance of successful implant treatment outcomes. The aim of the present article is to demonstrate the correlation of the 3D implant position and the adjacent tissue management protocol with the long-term maintenance of immediate implant placement results in postextraction sites. A series of 12 cases with a mean follow-up of 21.91 months is presented to introduce the concept of the 'magic square' (MS), denoting the area formed in the cervical implant region when the ideal 3D implant position is achieved. This position is 3-mm coronoapical from the implant platform to the gingival margin, with the maintenance of a 3-mm vestibulopalatine thickness of the buccal bone (ie, hard tissue gap from the buccal implant surface to the outer portion of the buccal bone wall), and a ≥ 3-mm soft tissue gap at the cervical portion of the implant. The achievement of the MS promotes soft tissue growth and the formation of a thicker peri-implant bone ridge, and ensures the stability of treatment outcomes over time.