Gelatin Sponge VS PTFE Membrane for Socket Sealing After Immediate Implant Placement

Dental implants are considered the gold standard for treatment of edentulous spaces. Immediate implant placement has multiple advantages including the shorter treatment span, less surgical procedures and faster loading possibility [1]. One of the drawbacks of immediate implant placement is proper soft tissue coverage of the submerged implant to prevent socket infection and allow implant stability and osseointegration [2]. To overcome these issues the use of membranes has been the standard procedure [3].

Polytetrafluoroethylene membranes (PTFE) have been reported vastly in literature and their results and clinical effect on soft tissue healing and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) around implants and in surgical sites. Dense PTFE allows for GTR by only promoting non-bacterial migration and improving cellular adhesion which promotes tissue regeneration underneath it [4]. On the other hand, PTFE membranes are quite expensive and with the economic crisis the world is facing the use of other less expensive options is crucial. Gelatin sponges are vastly used as hemostatic agents in minor surgical procedures and have shown excellent results in terms of hemostasis and rapid resorption [5]. The application of such material are multiple; such as with sinus lift procedures [6], microvascular decompression[7] and as a wound dressing [8].

The investigators hereby propose the use of hemostatic gelatin sponges as membranes for submerged immediate implants as a simpler and cheaper alternative to PTFE.

Inclusion criteria

• patients with badly broken down tooth indicated for immediate implantation
• generally healthy patients 22-50 years of age
• non smokers
• good oral hygiene

Exclusion criteria

• poor bone quality
• poor oral hygiene
• non compliant patient