Immediate placement and provisionalization of an implant after removal of an impacted maxillary canine: two case reports

Single immediate implant replacement is accompanied by excellent survival rates and a favorable esthetic outcome. The objective of this report was to describe a surgical approach for removal of a buccal or palatally located impacted secondary canine, combined with extraction of the failing primary canine, and immediate placement and provisionalization of an implant. A window technique was applied for surgical removal of the impacted canine. The alveolar crest was preserved. After extraction of the primary canine, the implant was inserted with primary stability. Finally, the exposed surfaces of the implant were covered with a 1:1 mixture of autologous bone and Bio-Oss®. At the 1-year evaluation, both implants were successfully osseointegrated and in function. Esthetics were excellent. It is concluded that under premise of preservation of sufficient bone to achieve primary stability of the implant, removal of the canines can be combined with immediate placement and provisionalization of the implant.