Soft Tissue Thickness on Submerged and Non Submerged Implants

The Influence of Soft Tissue Thickness On Crestal Bone Changes Around Submerged and Nonsubmerged Implants: A Randomized Prospective Clinical Study

Changes in the marginal bone level surrounding the implant are the frequently used parameters in assessing the short- and long-term success. Multiple biological and biomechanical factors have been reported to adversely affect marginal bone level. Recently, initial vertical mucosal tissue thickness has also been reported to have an impact on bone stability.The hypothesis of present study is that soft tissue thickness on implant placement has no positive impact of crestal bone remodeling.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographical results of submerged and nonsubmerged implants with thin (<3 mm) and thick (>3 mm) soft tissue over 1.5 year after implant placement. All submerged and nonsubmerged implants were randomly placed as split-mouth. Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. Crestal bone levels were analyzed from the day of implants inserted to 1.5 year after prosthetic loading on digitally standardized radiographs. Non-parametric test were used for statistically analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being older than 18 years of age
• generally healthy patients, no medical contraindication for implant surgery
• missing teeth in upper jaw posterior and more than one tooth in neighbourhood area
• no bone augmentation procedures before and during implant placement.

Exclusion Criteria:

• poor oral hygiene
• history of periodontitis
• smoking
• diabetes
• alcoholism
• taking medication which interferes soft and hard tissue healing
• bruxism.