The multicentre pilot randomised controlled trial by Hicklin et al. investigates the performance of a novel bone-level tapered (BLT) implant system when restored with all-ceramic crowns on titanium base abutments, comparing two distinct placement timings: immediate placement (on the day of extraction) versus early placement (after 6–8 weeks of healing).
This study enrolled 60 patients across five centres and achieved an impressive 98.3 % implant survival at one year.
Of considerable significance, the mean distance from implant shoulder to first bone‐to‐implant contact at 12 months was only 0.15 ± 0.59 mm, with no statistically significant difference between the two protocols.
Soft‐tissue outcomes were equally encouraging: buccal recession averaged 0.1 ± 0.70 mm and papilla height gains averaged 0.5 ± 1.47 mm mesially and 0.4 ± 1.36 mm distally, with comparable values for both immediate and early placement protocols.
By evaluating both radiographic (bone level stability, ISQ) and pink esthetics (recession, papilla height) in a real-world clinical environment—including university and private-practice settings—the authors provide important evidence that immediate placement of this BLT system may be a viable alternative to the conventional early placement on the horizon of 12 months.
For clinicians focusing on esthetic outcomes with all-ceramic restorations on titanium base abutments, these findings inform decision-making regarding timing protocols, implant design selection and patient treatment logistics.
👉 We invite you to explore this article in depth to understand how the BLT implant design, timing of placement, and restoration workflow impact one-year outcomes—and to consider how these insights can inform your own implant-esthetics protocol planning.
