{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,4]],"date-time":"2026-06-04T18:38:52Z","timestamp":1780598332678,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,27]],"date-time":"2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743033600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"UAB Megagen Baltics"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: The socket-shield technique (SST) was developed to preserve the facial\/buccal portion of a tooth root to prevent post-extraction ridge resorption. It has gained attention for use in anterior implant sites, but its application in posterior sites remains unexplored. The aim of this case report was to report a proof-of-principle case using SST in a lower molar site and evaluate its effectiveness in preserving tissues. Methods: A 34-year-old non-smoking patient with a non-restorable mandibular first molar (tooth #36) underwent immediate implant placement with the SST. The tooth\u2019s crown was removed, and the buccal segments of the roots were retained as \u201cshields\u201d while the implant was placed in the center of the socket. Preoperative and postoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans and clinical exams were used to assess outcomes up to 12 months. Results: The SST procedure was completed uneventfully. CBCT after 4 months and 12 months showed minimal horizontal bone loss: ~0.2 mm at 4 months; ~0.1 mm additional loss by 12 months. The peri-implant soft tissue profile remained stable, and the implant achieved osseointegration with high primary and secondary stability. Conclusions: In this clinical case, the socket-shield technique effectively preserved alveolar bone and soft tissue contours in a molar extraction site, avoiding the ridge collapse often seen post-extraction. This suggests SST may be a viable tissue preservation approach in posterior sites; however, long-term follow-up and further studies are needed to confirm sustained outcomes and validate the technique\u2019s predictability.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj13040145","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,27]],"date-time":"2025-03-27T12:41:02Z","timestamp":1743079262000},"page":"145","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Tissue Preservation Using Socket-Shield Technique in Lower Molar Site: A Proof of Principle Report"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Regimantas","family":"Simuntis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, 00128 Palanga, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3020-8430","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulius","family":"Tu\u0161as","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Au\u0161ra","family":"Ra\u017eanauskien\u0117","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, 08339 Vilnius, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vygandas","family":"Rutk\u016bnas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7641-3333","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marijus","family":"Leketas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.1111\/jerd.12512","article-title":"Peri-implant tissue management after immediate implant placement using a customized healing abutment","volume":"31","author":"Pauletto","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. 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Res."}],"container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/13\/4\/145\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:02:58Z","timestamp":1760029378000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-6767\/13\/4\/145"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,27]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]}},"alternative-id":["dj13040145"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/dj13040145","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-6767"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2304-6767","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,27]]}}}