Is socket shielding an option in esthetic region?

Abstract

The implant cannot preserve the surrounding bone from resorption when placed in the extraction socket. After teeth extraction, a change in the bony architecture of the anterior region makes oral rehabilitation difficult by an implant. This leads us to explore such a critical issue and the relevant data were collected from Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane database and reviewed. Socket shielding technique is intentional retention of the buccal segment of root fragment during the implant placement in the extraction socket. Socket shielding is an effective procedure in minimizing the buccal bone resorption along with minimizing the buccal contour changes it is minimally invasive as the bone graft is optional thus reducing the cost of the treatment procedure. The limited studies were available to support the routine clinical use of the socket shielding technique. Socket shielding seems to become the non-invasive technique for the preservation of hard and soft tissue by dental implant especially in the esthetic zone in the future. Therefore studies should be carried out on a large population to obtained more précised results related to the socket shielding technique.