Peri-implant hard tissue response to glow-discharged abutments: prospective study. Preliminary radiological results

In the literature has been demonstrated that when an implant is placed in the oral environment, changes in peri-implant hard tissue level may occur. Several clinical procedures have been advocated to clinically minimize this bone resorption. However, minimal attention was paid to the soft- and hard-tissue abutment interaction. The present clinical preliminary study is intended to radiologically analyze the effect of glow-discharged abutments on hard tissue level changes after 18 months of prosthetic loading. Five patients needing an implant supported restoration in the anterior maxillary area with thin gingival tissue biotype and healed bone were recruited. An implant was inserted and a titanium abutment was glow-discharged with an Argon plasma treatment in a plasma reactor and, immediately after, definitively screwed at 30N. Provisional restoration was therefore positioned. Three months later, definitive restoration was performed. Digital periapical standardized radiographs were taken at the time of surgery, 6 and 18 months thereafter. Radiographic analysis was carried out using image analysis software. At baseline, interproximal radiographs revealed no bone defect around implants in both groups. After 6 months from baseline, the postoperative interproximal radiographs revealed an average bone loss of 0.09mm (range 0.0-0.3mm, SD=0.144mm). After 18 months from baseline, the periapical X-ray showed a stable condition of bone remodeling (mean value: 0.09, range 0.0-0.5mm, SD=0.08mm). Within the limit of this study, glow-discharged abutments have been demonstrated to positively affect hard tissue reaction to implant restoration.