["Esthetic plus"-ITI-implants (TPS): a prospective clinical study]

The purpose of this prospective study was to examine the influence of a 1 mm lengthening of the rough surface (TPS) of "esthetic plus"-ITI-implants on the periimplant soft and hard tissues. Twenty-one "esthetic plus" ITI-implants were inserted into the maxilla in an esthetically critical zone of 12 patients with sufficient alveolar bone. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed after ten and 32 months. The mean DIB-score (DIB = distance between implant shoulder and first implant-bone contact) was 2.19 mm after 32 month. The average DIB-score of implant sites adjacent to natural teeth was 1.90 mm, there only 0.1 mm of the rough surface did not have bone contact. However, the average DIB-scores of implant sites adjacent to other implants (2.63 mm) or distal extension situations (2.79 mm) were much higher. This means that the coronal part of the rough surface had no radiographic bone contact with 0.83 mm (to other implants) and with 0.99 mm (to distal extension situations), what should be taken into consideration when using an "esthetic plus"-ITI-implant. As a consequence a standard ITI-implant with a smooth neck of 2.8 mm would be indicated. The results of the present study indicate, that not only the shortening of the smooth implant neck to 1.8 mm but also the adjacent structures influence the periimplant soft and hard tissues.