Objective: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the effect on the interproximal implant bone loss (IBL) of two different heights (1 and 3 mm) of definitive abutments placed at bone level implants with a platform switched design.
Material and methods:Twenty-two patients received forty-four implants (6.5-10 mm length and 3.5-4 mm diameter) to replace at least two adjacent missing teeth, one bridge set to each patient-two implants per bridge. Patients were randomly allocated, and two different abutment heights, 1 and 3 mm using only one abutment height per bridge, were used. Clinical and radiological measurements were performed at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Interproximal bone level changes were compared between treatment groups. The association between IBL and categorical variables (history of periodontitis, smoking, implant location, implant diameter, implant length, insertion torque, width of keratinized mucosa, bone density, gingival biotype and antagonist) was also performed.
Objectives
The aim of this RCT was to assess radiographically the effect of abutment height and depth of placement of platform‐switched implants on interproximal peri‐implant bone loss (IPBL) in patients with thin peri‐implant mucosa.
Material and Methods
Thirty‐three patients received one prosthesis supported by two implants replacing at least two adjacent missing teeth (66 implants). Patients were randomly allocated and implant insertion depth adapted to abutment height groups (3 mm height group the implants were placed 2 mm subcrestally; 1 mm height group, equicrestally). Clinical and radiological measurements were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Interproximal bone‐level changes were compared between treatment groups using repeated measures mixed ANOVA. The association between IPBL and categorical variables was also analyzed.
Results
The mean IPBL in 1 mm abutment group was 0.76 ± 0.79 mm at 3 months, 0.92 ± 0.88 mm at 6 months, and 0.95 ± 0.88 mm at 12 months, while in the 3 mm abutment group was 0.06 ± 0.21, 0.07 ± 0.22 mm, and 0.12 ± 0.33 mm, respectively. Significant differences between both groups were observed at every time point. When the influence of patient characteristics and clinical variables was analyzed, no statistically significant differences were also observed.
Conclusions
The use of long abutments, in combination with subcrestal implant position in sites with thin mucosa, led to lower IPBL in comparison with the use of short abutments.
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