Novel Digital Scanning Workflow For Anterior Implants With Gingival Contouring

This case presents an innovative technique for single implant crown fabrication, involving immediate digital scanning post-implant placement. It's also the first time immediate oral-scanning used for anterior final restoration. The patient in this study lost a left central incisor in the aesthetic zone, which was extracted due to trauma five years ago. The absence of intime restoration led to narrowing of the edentulous space and tilting of adjacent teeth, reducing available space. On the day of surgery, an implant was placed with guided bone regeneration followed by an intraoral scan to record the implant position. Four months later, the healing abutment was removed, and the final crown was fully seated without adjustments to occlusion or proximal contacts. The follow-up showed acceptable gingival shaping and good soft tissue recovery with no bleeding on probing after three weeks. However, the labial gingival zenith was about 1mm higher than the contralateral tooth. Meanwhile radiographs showed no peri-implant radiolucency, with marginal bone levels coronal to the implant-abutment junction. This technique demonstrates excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes. Despite slight differences in buccal gingival height, likely due to implant depth, the patient was still satisfied with the result. Tissue changes around the defect seemed minimal, with satisfactory proximal and occlusal contacts achieved without adjustments. The aforementioned procedure reduces clinical visits, shortens treatment times, and lowers costs, while ensuring favorable gingival shaping. However, further research is required to determine the long-term stability of hard and soft tissues with this approach.