Abstract
ObjectivesTo assess contour changes of peri-implant tissues comparing a one- and a two-piece dental implant system over 12 years.Materials and methodsPatients seeking implant therapy were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive implants (a one-piece (STM) or a two-piece (BRA) system). Impressions were taken at the time of insertion of the final reconstruction (BL), after 1 year (FU-1), 5 years (FU-5), and at 12 years (FU-12). Thirty patients were included in the analysis (STM, 16; BRA, 14). Digital scans of casts were superimposed and analyzed in an image analysis program. Measurements included changes of the crown height, contour changes on the buccal side of the implants and the contralateral teeth (control).ResultsContour changes at implant sites revealed a loss of − 0.29 mm (STM) and − 0.46 mm (BRA) during an observation period of 12 years. Contour changes at the corresponding tooth sites amounted to − 0.06 mm (STM) and − 0.12 mm (BRA) during the same time period. The implant crown gained 0.25 mm (STM) and 0.08 mm (BRA) in height due to recession of the marginal mucosa. The corresponding gain in crown height at the contralateral tooth sites amounted to 0.36 mm (STM) and 0.10 mm (BRA). Interproximal marginal bone level changes measured − 0.28 mm (STM) and − 1.11 mm (BRA). The mean BOP amounted to 38.8% (STM) and 48.7% (BRA) at the 12-year follow-up (FU-12).ConclusionMinimal changes of the peri-implant soft tissue contour were observed at implant sites over the period of 12 years irrespective of the use of a one- or a two-piece implant system. The differences between the implant sites and corresponding teeth were clinically negligible.Clinical relevancePeri-implant soft tissue stability is of high clinical relevance when monitoring dental implant sites on the long run. Clinical data on the extent of soft tissue changes around different implant systems are scarce. The present RCTs demonstrate minimal changes of the peri-implant soft tissue contour 12 years after implant insertion independent of the use of a one- or a two-piece implant system.
Highlights
Implant therapy is considered a dental treatment option with high predictability and survival rates of implants and corresponding reconstructions [1,2,3]
At 5 years (FU-5), 33 dental casts were suitable for the profilometric analyses [25]
This is predominantly due to the fact that a certain number of technical and biological complications occur over time
Summary
Implant therapy is considered a dental treatment option with high predictability and survival rates of implants and corresponding reconstructions [1,2,3]. Success criteria were defined adding technical, biological, and esthetic outcomes to the simple survival rates [1, 4] Among these implant success parameters, the stability of the peri-implant hard and soft tissues appears to be relevant from an esthetic point of view and from a biological point of view. Peri-apical X-rays and, more recently, cone-beam computed tomography were used to evaluate changes of the peri-implant tissues on the level of the bone [6, 7]. These data are limited by the fact that the clinical relevance of having a sufficient buccal hard tissue is still questionable. In order to overcome these limitations, noninvasive methods were developed to monitor implant sites over time
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