Crestal Bone Stability around Implants with Horizontally Matching Connection after Soft Tissue Thickening: A Prospective Clinical Trial

Abstract

It has been shown that thin mucosal tissues may be an important factor in crestal bone loss etiology. Thus, it is possible that mucosal tissue thickening with allogenic membrane might reduce crestal bone loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how implants with traditional connection maintain crestal bone level after soft tissue thickening with allogenic membrane. One hundred three patients received 103 internal hex implants of 4.6 mm diameter with regular connection. According to gingiva thickness, patients were assigned into A (thin tissues, n = 34), B (thin, thickened with allogenic membrane, n = 35), and C group (thick tissues, n = 34). Groups A and C had one-stage approach, and in group B, implants were placed in two stages. Radiographic examination was performed after implant placement, 2 months after healing, after restoration, and after 1-year follow-up. Crestal bone loss was calculated medially and distally. Significance was set to 0.05. After 1-year follow-up, implants in group A had 1.65 ± 0.08-mm bone loss mesially and 1.81 ± 0.06 mm distally. Group B had 0.31 ± 0.05 mm mesially and 0.34 ± 0.05 mm distally. C group implants experienced bone loss of 0.44 ± 0.06 mm mesially and 0.47 ± 0.07 mm distally. Differences between A and B, and A and C were significant (p = .000) both mesially and distally, whereas differences between B and C were not significant mesially (p = .166) and distally (p = .255). It can be concluded that thin mucosal tissues may cause early crestal bone loss, but their thickening with allogenic membrane may significantly reduce bone resorption. Implants in naturally thick soft tissues experienced minor bone remodeling.