Comparison of regular- and slope-configured dental implants placed in the edentulous ridge with height discrepancy: A pilot randomized controlled trial

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Edentulous ridges with height discrepancies (RHDs) could jeopardize the outcome of implant placement. This study aimed at evaluating the outcomes of placing regular- and slope-configured implants in RHDs. Patients with >1mm RHDs requesting implant rehabilitation were recruited and randomly assigned to regular- (control) or slope-configured (test) implant treatment using a submerged installation protocol. Thread exposure (TE) and implant stability quotient (ISQ) were evaluated during implant installation (S1) and uncovered surgery (S2), and marginal bone level (MBL) was evaluated after implant installation (T1) and uncovery (T3), and one year after implant placement (T4). Periodontal status and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) biomarkers of adjacent teeth were evaluated before implant installation (T0), before uncovery (T2), and at T4. Peri-implant clinical status and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) biomarkers of examined implants were evaluated at T4. Nineteen patients with 17 control and 13 test implants were included. All of the implants survived with acceptable peri-implant health, and PICF biomarkers were at equivalent levels as GCF biomarkers of the adjacent teeth at T4. Compared with the control group, the test group showed reduced TE and equivalent ISQ at S1 and S2, and the loss of MBL was reduced at T4. Regarding the adjacent teeth, all periodontal parameters and GCF biomarkers were slightly decreased from T0 to T2, and the reductions in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level were slightly greater at T4. Slope-configured implants maintained the implant-supporting structures and minimally altered periodontal status of the adjacent teeth in RHDs.