Soft tissue integration of different abutment surfaces: An experimental study with histological analysis

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Soft tissue augmentation around dental implants is crucial for esthetics and function.
• Abutment surface characteristics can influence peri-implant soft tissue integration.
• Bio-activation of abutment surfaces may enhance soft tissue response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of abutment surface topography and plasma activation on soft tissue morphogenesis around dental implants.
• To compare the histological outcomes of different abutment surface treatments.

Main Methods:

• 36 patients with 36 implants were included, with abutments divided into four groups: machined (MAC), ultra-thin threaded microsurface (UTM), plasma-activated MAC (Plasma-MAC), and plasma-activated UTM (Plasma-UTM).
• Soft tissue samples were collected after 2 months of healing for histological analysis.
• Key measurements included the margin of the peri-implant mucosa (PM), apical extension of the barrier epithelium (aJE), and apical location of the abutment (AM).

Main Results:

• Plasma-activated abutments showed statistically significant differences in aJE-AM height and PM-aJE profile compared to untreated abutments (p < 0.05).
• The Plasma-MAC group exhibited the most favorable outcomes regarding connective tissue portion (CTP) dimensions.
• Enhanced soft tissue response to plasma treatment was more evident in patients with preoperative soft tissue thickness ≤2mm.

Conclusions:

• Plasma treatment of abutment surfaces positively affects connective tissue portion development around dental implants.
• The Plasma-MAC group demonstrated superior performance in promoting soft tissue growth.
• The efficacy of plasma treatment is correlated with the initial soft tissue thickness, suggesting personalized treatment strategies.