Association of Implant Position and Crown Contour With Tissue Health

Association of Implant Position and Crown Contour With Esthetics and Tissue Health in Anterior Single Tooth Replacement: a Prospective Study

Emergence profile and crown contour of implant supported rehabilitation, which is influenced by implant position, is associated with peri-implant health and esthetic outcomes. However, there is no study prospectively explore the association between implant position, emergence profile/crown contour, and dental implant outcomes. Thus, the present study aims to (1) assess the multivariate association between local factors and peri-implant soft-tissue health, inflammation, and microbiome; and (2) to identify patterns/clusters of implant characteristics significantly associated with health or inflammation.

This will be a prospective study aimed at associating the development of peri-implant mucosal inflammation (mucositis) and deeper inflammation (peri-implantitis with marginal bone loss) with features associated with implant position (three-dimensional position of the implant platform) and the consequent shape of the crown contour and emergence profile. The hypothesis is that implant position determines the shape of the crown, which in turn determines the persistence of a local microbial biofilm as unfavourable crown contours hamper oral hygiene efforts aimed at biofilm control/removal. The persistence of a biofilm will cause soft tissue inflammation, which may lead to microbial dysbiosis and disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with a single implant-supported restoration in anterior jaws (premolars to premolars), with adjacent natural teeth, with pre-surgery CBCT and intra-oral scans, and willing to comply with research appointments/schedule.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant at any point during the study duration;
• With any systematic diseases/conditions that are contradictions to dental implant treatment;
• Inability or unwillingness of individual to give written informed consent.
• Inability of follow-up according to the protocol.