Use of Tuberosity Tissue Block for Tunneling Reconstruction of Class III Sockets With Simultaneous Implant Placement: A Case Report.

Immediate implant placement in the anterior maxilla remains a complex procedure, particularly when the cortical bone plate of the socket is not intact and a gingival recession is present. The reconstruction of both hard and soft tissues increases the complexity of these clinical scenarios. This case report describes a novel, minimally invasive technique to reconstruct class III sockets with simultaneous implant placement. Four incisions are made with a scalpel blade to create, or "draw," a square outline instead of raising a flap at the tuberosity to harvest a hard- and soft-tissue block. In addition, a tunneling approach is described to graft the site while preserving the recipient area's vascularity. Harvesting a hard- and soft-tissue block from the tuberosity in a minimally invasive manner preserves the donor site and helps to reconstruct a class III alveolus in one single appointment, thereby reducing morbidity, costs, and treatment time.