There’s nothing quite as rewarding as watching a patient go from a hesitant, self-conscious smile to a confident, radiant one. As a dentist, I’ve placed countless implants, and each case brings its own set of challenges and learning experiences. Today, I want to share the story of one particularly memorable case—a single-tooth implant in the aesthetic zone—to give fellow clinicians insight into a smooth, efficient workflow from surgery to final restoration.
The Patient: A Common but Challenging Case
Our patient was a 45-year-old male, a long-time coffee drinker, who had fractured his upper right central incisor (#8) in an accident. The fracture was severe, extending subgingivally, making it non-restorable. His main concern?
👉 Aesthetics. He wanted a natural-looking replacement that matched his existing teeth perfectly.
We had two options:
1️⃣ A traditional bridge, requiring the preparation of adjacent teeth.
2️⃣ A single dental implant, preserving his natural dentition while providing a long-term solution.
The patient, eager to avoid unnecessary tooth reduction, opted for the implant. Our goal was to replace his tooth seamlessly, ensuring a stable, functional, and aesthetically perfect result.
Step 1: Extraction & Immediate Site Preservation
The first challenge was removing the fractured tooth without damaging the surrounding bone and soft tissue. Since the patient had an otherwise healthy periodontium, we decided on an atraumatic extraction using periotomes and forceps designed for socket preservation.
🔹 Why it mattered: Preserving as much bone as possible was crucial, especially in the anterior maxilla, where even a small defect can lead to aesthetic complications.
After extracting the tooth, I performed socket grafting using a particulate bone substitute to maintain volume and prevent post-extraction resorption. This would enhance future implant stability and provide optimal conditions for soft tissue healing.
👉 Healing period: 8-10 weeks before proceeding to the implant placement stage.
Step 2: Implant Placement – Precision is Key
At the 10-week mark, the patient returned for the implant placement procedure. A CBCT scan confirmed sufficient bone volume for a standard 3.5mm x 13mm titanium implant.
Surgical Considerations:
✅ Flapless approach to minimize trauma and post-op discomfort
✅ Guided implant placement using a surgical stent for perfect positioning
✅ Optimal primary stability achieved with 35Ncm torque
I placed the implant slightly subcrestal to allow for proper tissue healing and prevent future peri-implant mucosal recession. Since we were in an aesthetic zone, correct angulation was critical—too buccal, and we’d risk recession; too palatal, and the emergence profile would suffer.
🔹 Final Result: A well-placed implant with excellent initial stability and an ideal emergence profile for the future restoration.
Step 3: Soft Tissue Healing – The Key to Aesthetic Success
For anterior implants, soft tissue contouring is just as important as bone integration. Poor soft tissue management can result in black triangles, unnatural gum recession, or an obvious implant appearance.
To shape the peri-implant tissue, I placed a custom healing abutment instead of a generic one. This allowed the soft tissue to mature in a natural, convex shape, mimicking the contour of a natural tooth.
👉 Healing phase: 3 months for full osseointegration and soft tissue stability.
Step 4: Impression & Prosthetic Design
Once the implant had fully integrated, we moved on to the restorative phase.
Instead of using traditional PVS impressions, I opted for a digital workflow using an intraoral scanner. Why?
✅ More precise fit
✅ Faster turnaround time
✅ Better communication with the lab
The lab designed a screw-retained zirconia crown, ensuring:
✔️ Optimal esthetics (matching the adjacent teeth)
✔️ Retrievability for future maintenance
✔️ No cement excess, which could cause peri-implantitis
After verifying the fit and occlusion, I torqued the abutment screw to 30Ncm and sealed the access hole with composite. The result? A seamless, natural restoration that the patient could hardly distinguish from his real teeth.
The Final Result: A Happy, Confident Patient
When the patient looked in the mirror, his reaction said it all.
👉 A confident, natural smile.
👉 No sign of metal or implant shadowing.
👉 Perfectly blended aesthetics with adjacent teeth.
This case was a textbook example of how a well-planned dental implant workflow leads to predictable, long-lasting results.
An Honorable Mention: Why OEMDent’s Components Made This Process Flawless
While skill, planning, and technique are essential in implant dentistry, the quality of the components we use matters just as much.
For this case, I relied on OEMDent’s precision-engineered components, including:
✔️ A high-quality, compatible implant abutment that ensured a perfect fit
✔️ A custom healing abutment that shaped soft tissue beautifully
✔️ An impression coping that made digital scanning a breeze
Without OEMDent’s superior materials and seamless compatibility, this process wouldn’t have been as smooth—or as cost-effective. Their components not only delivered flawless function but also helped reduce overall costs without compromising on quality.
For any clinician looking to enhance their implant workflow, I highly recommend checking out OEMDent’s implant solutions. From surgery to restoration, they’ve got the tools to make every case a success.
Final Thoughts
Every implant case presents unique challenges, but with proper planning, technique, and high-quality components, success is always within reach.
If there’s one key takeaway, it’s this:
👉 Precision at every step—surgery, healing, and restoration—is what defines a great implant outcome.
For my fellow clinicians, I hope this case provides some valuable insights into a smooth and predictable implant workflow. And for those looking for top-tier implant components without breaking the bank, you now know where to look. 🚀
