ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Compromised teeth with periapical pathologies are removed before dental implant placement and sockets are left to heal. Some clinicians began to immediately place dental implants in fresh extraction sockets associated with chronic inflammatory periapical lesions and these studies revealed high success rates.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate healing of dental implants placed in sockets with chronic inflammatory periapical lesions after socket debridement.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 10 patients received 10 implants that were immediately inserted in sockets associated with chronic periapical granuloma. A variety of clinical and radiological parameters were assessed.
RESULTS: All implants were osseointegrated with satisfactory implant stability at the end of the 6-month follow-up period and with no signs of clinical mobility or infection. All periapical lesions healed with no radiographic signs of peri-implantitis or lesion recurrence.
CONCLUSIONS: Implants could osseointegrate successfully when their placement was done immediately after extraction of teeth with periapical lesions, assuming that proper clinical measures, such as careful cleaning, socket debridement and curettage are undertaken prior to the implant surgical placement.