Immediate provisionalization of bone level implants with a hydrophilic surface. A five-year follow-up of a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

To follow-up the radiographic bone level changes and the clinical outcomes of immediately provisionalized and conventionally restored implants with a hydrophilic surface following 5years of function. This was a 5-year follow-up of a prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled study involving 16 of the 24 originally recruited patients in need of a single-tooth replacement in the esthetic area. Implants were either immediately provisionalized with a non-occluding temporary crown (test group, n=7), or left without a crown (control group, n=9). In both groups, the definitive restoration was placed 16weeks after implant placement. Radiographic and clinical parameters were evaluated at 36, 48, and 60months post-implant placement, together with implant survival and success rates. The esthetic outcomes were measured with the Papilla Fill Index (PFI) and the Pink Esthetic Score (PES). At 60months, similar peri-implant bone loss was observed in the test (-0.42mm ±0.17mm) and in the control (-0.37mm ±0.35mm) groups. A tendency for an improved esthetic outcome from implant loading to the subsequent follow-ups was noticed in both groups. Both groups presented with high levels of long-term implant survival and success. This study supports non-functional immediate provisionalization as a viable long-term option for the management of single-tooth implants in the esthetic area. However, the small sample size does not allow statistical inference at 60months of follow-up and future adequately powered studies are warranted.