Peri-implant Tissue Health in Bone-Level Implants with Repeated Abutment Replacements Versus Tissue- Level Implants...

The present randomized controlled study was undertaken to evaluate and compare peri-implant hard and soft tissue changes between implants restored with multiple disconnections and reconnections of the abutment (control group) vs implants restored with a definitive abutment (test group). Twenty edentulous sites from 13 systemically healthy participants were selected for the study. The recorded clinical parameters were bleeding on probing (BOP) and peri-implant pocket depth (PIPD). The measured radiographic parameter was peri-implant marginal bone loss (PMBL). Two parameters were measured both clinically and by CBCT: distance from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar crest and alveolar ridge width. At the time of surgery, sites were randomly assigned to either the control or test group. At 6 months, (1) BOP was absent in both groups, (2) PIPD increased in both groups and was significantly greater in the control group, and (3) the mean PMBL was significantly higher in the control group than the test group. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of implants with a definitive abutment could be more beneficial in achieving better maintenance of marginal peri-implant tissue health.