Socket shield to preserve the buccal cortical plate for an esthetic outcome

The buccal/labial alveolar bone is primarily vascularised by the periodontal membrane of the tooth. After extraction, the buccal/labial cortical plate starts resorbing at a faster rate than the palatal/lingual plate leading to its partial or total resorption. In order to overcome the negative consequences of tooth extraction various methods have been described in the literature such as hard and soft tissue augmentation following extraction with or without immediate implant placement. Resorption of the buccal/labial bundle bone can be avoided by leaving a buccal/labial root segment in place so that the biological integrity of the buccal/labial periodontium remains untouched. Immediate implant placement is a well-recognized and successful treatment option following tooth removal. Socket shield technique seems to be a good alternative for immediate implant placement in aesthetically challenging cases that aimed first to preserve the buccal/labial plate of bone and prevent post extraction resorption with leaving the buccal/labial aspect of the root intact.