Marginal bone response of submerged and non-submerged osteoconductive alkali-etched implants in thick and thin biotypes: A 2-year clinical follow-up study.

PURPOSE

This follow-up study evaluated the implant success rate and marginal bone response of submerged and non-submerged osteoconductive two-piece implants with a moderately rough implant neck in thick and thin gingival biotypes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The stability of the hard tissue surrounding the implants was evaluated, based on clinical and radiographic examinations performed after implant placement and every follow-up thereafter. The clinical data were processed via linear mixed-effects model statistics at the patient level.

RESULTS

Forty-three edentulous and partially edentulous patients were treated with a total of 97 implants with an osteoconductive surface. After 2 years in function, all the implants and dental prostheses reached a 100% success rate according to predefined criteria. Taking implantation as a baseline, the mean change in the marginal bone level (ΔMBLp) after 2 years in function was -0.36 mm (SD: 0.55), and bone resorption higher than 1 mm and less than 2.5 mm was observed for seven implants. Taking dental prosthesis placement as a baseline, the ΔMBLp after 2 years of loading was -0.13 mm (SD: 0.39), and bone resorption higher than 1 mm and less than 2.0 mm was observed only for two implants. Statistically significant differences in mean marginal bone loss were observed in the gingival biotype (P = .006) and submersion (P < .05). Their influence on the dynamics of peri-implant bone loss during the process of biologic width restoration was analyzed.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the high stability of peri-implant hard tissue and the 100% success rate of the implant system with a moderately rough neck. The biotype and implant submersion were evaluated as factors having a significant influence on marginal bone loss.