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Stomatologija 2025; 27 (4): 80-6 372 KB

Socket-shield technique vs traditional immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Augustė Brazytė¹, Julija Bražėnaitė¹, Dominykas Gedminas¹, Salma Varoneckaitė¹, Domantė Irtmonaitė¹, Juozas Žilinskas²

Summary

Purpose. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the difference between bone atrophy, pink esthetic score, and long-term results in socket shield technique compared to traditional immediate implantation.

Materials and methods. The literature review was carried out according to PRISMA principles and the database search was performed using the following keywords: „Socket shield technique “, „Root membrane “, „Pink esthetic score “, and „Immediate dental implant loading “. This review involved studies with humans that were published in English. The studies were published between 2018 and 2025, and the socket shield technique was compared with traditional immediate implantation.

Results. Out of 517 records, 5 randomized controlled trials were selected, reporting 169 patients who received 184 implants (92 socket-shield technique, 92 immediate implant). Meta-analysis of the Pink Esthetic Score outcomes showed that implants placed using the socket-shield technique (intervention group) achieved significantly higher pink esthetic scores than those implants placed immediately (pooled mean difference = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.32–2.26; p=0.0095), demonstrating a statistically significant effect in favor of the intervention group. Our systematic review demonstrates that socket-shield technique provides superior preservation of marginal bone compared with traditional immediate implantation protocols.

Conclusions. The socket shield technique allows implant rehabilitation characterized by better aesthetic outcomes and minimal bone loss compared to traditional immediate implantation.

Key words: socket shield technique, immediate implant placement, pink aesthetic score, esthetic zone.

Received: 14 01 2025

Accepted for publishing: 22 12 2025

¹Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

²Department of Prosthodontics, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

Address correspo ndence to Augustė Brazytė, Faculty of Odontology, Medical Academy (MA), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių g. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania.

E-mail address: brazyte01@gmail.com



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

2025, Vol. 27, No. 4 CONTENTS SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Cyclic fatigue resistance of several deep cryogenically treated nickel-titanium endodontic rotary and reciprocating files in artificial canals Airida Vaikšnytė, Nijolė Krasilnikova, Akvilė Strazdaitė, Tadas Venskutonis 75-79 REVIEWS Socket-shield technique vs traditional immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone: A systematic review and meta-analysis Augustė Brazytė, Julija Bražėnaitė, Dominykas Gedminas, Salma Varoneckaitė, Domantė Irtmonaitė, Juozas Žilinskas 80-86 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Prevalence of infectious diseases and disorders of dermal apparatus in relation to head and neck region pertaining to adult and paediatric population – An original research Harepriya Meganathan Karthikeyini, Karthik Shunmugavelu, Evangeline Cynthia Dhinakaran 87-90 CASE REPORTS Sialolithiasis' diagnosis and treatment plan: A case series Maurília Raquel de Souto Medeiros, Ingrid Barbosa Lima, Claudia Alice de Araújo Dantas, Caio César Silva Barros, Adriano Rocha Germano, Éricka Janine Dantas da Silveira, Patricia Teixeira de Oliveira 91-96 © 2026 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2025; 27 (4): 80-6 372 KB Socket-shield technique vs traditional immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone: A systematic review and meta-analysis Augustė Brazytė¹, Julija Bražėnaitė¹, Dominykas Gedminas¹, Salma Varoneckaitė¹, Domantė Irtmonaitė¹, Juozas Žilinskas² Summary Purpose. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the difference between bone atrophy, pink esthetic score, and long-term results in socket shield technique compared to traditional immediate implantation. Materials and methods. The literature review was carried out according to PRISMA principles and the database search was performed using the following keywords: „Socket shield technique “, „Root membrane “, „Pink esthetic score “, and „Immediate dental implant loading “. This review involved studies with humans that were published in English. The studies were published between 2018 and 2025, and the socket shield technique was compared with traditional immediate implantation. Results. Out of 517 records, 5 randomized controlled trials were selected, reporting 169 patients who received 184 implants (92 socket-shield technique, 92 immediate implant). Meta-analysis of the Pink Esthetic Score outcomes showed that implants placed using the socket-shield technique (intervention group) achieved significantly higher pink esthetic scores than those implants placed immediately (pooled mean difference = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.32–2.26; p=0.0095), demonstrating a statistically significant effect in favor of the intervention group. Our systematic review demonstrates that socket-shield technique provides superior preservation of marginal bone compared with traditional immediate implantation protocols. Conclusions. The socket shield technique allows implant rehabilitation characterized by better aesthetic outcomes and minimal bone loss compared to traditional immediate implantation. Key words: socket shield technique, immediate implant placement, pink aesthetic score, esthetic zone. Received: 14 01 2025 Accepted for publishing: 22 12 2025 ¹Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania ²Department of Prosthodontics, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania Address correspo ndence to Augustė Brazytė, Faculty of Odontology, Medical Academy (MA), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių g. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail address: brazyte01@gmail.com