ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Absorption of the alveolar bone subsequent to tooth extraction is a long-term process, especially in the anterior tooth region where the buccal part of the ridge undergoes a prominent remodeling process after tooth extraction. Socket shield technique (SST) recently reported may be a new choice for peri-implant tissue preservation. OBJECTIVE: To give an overview on the principle, interface basis and application of SST in implant dentistry. METHODS: The first author searched the PubMed, Ovid, CNKI, VIP and WanFang databases for relevant articles published from January 1990 to October 2017. The keywords were "socket shield technique;root-membrane technique; root-implant; implant proximity to teeth; dental-contected implants; dentointegration;cementum formation on implant surface" in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SST aims to maintain alveolar bone and gingival tissues by preserving partial tooth root with its periodontium-bundle bone intact, which is an alternative strategy for tissue preservation in esthetics zone.