The Effect of the Sealing Socket Abutment (SSA) on Hard and Soft Tissue Healing Following Molar Post-Extraction Immediate Implant Placement

Immediate implant placement in molar sites is gaining increasing interest among clinicians as a time-efficient, cost-effective, and patient-centered alternative to delayed protocols. However, extensive scientific evidence shows that post-extraction alveolar remodeling can compromise long-term implant success due to unfavorable conditions such as insufficient primary stability or parafunctional habits. The sealing socket abutment (SSA) represents a biologically and prosthetically driven solution in cases where immediate restoration is not feasible, in particular for molar sites. Placed at the time of implant surgery, the SSA seals the socket, supports the peri-implant soft tissue, and preserves the emergence profile during healing, thereby eliminating the need for second surgery. Emerging clinical evidence suggests that the use of customized healing abutments mitigates the collapse of hard and soft tissues, maintaining mucosal volume and reducing marginal bone loss. Both retrospective and prospective studies report favorable outcomes and high patient satisfaction in anterior and posterior indications. This article describes the clinical workflow of the SSA protocol in molar sites, highlighting its role in enhancing peri-implant tissue stability and simplifying the overall treatment sequence.