Effect of Abutment Color and Soft Tissues Changes on the Esthetic Outcome of Implant-Supported Lithium Disilicate...

To evaluate the influence of titanium and gold-shaded titanium as well as peri-implant soft tissue thickness on the optical outcome of implant-supported lithium disilicate single crowns.

Eighteen patients received an anterosuperior implant (Astra Tech Implant System EV). Two customized titanium abutments (gold and conventional) were fabricated, and a lithium disilicate crown was placed. Color measurements were taken at the free gingival margin and in the mid buccal region of both the crown and the contralateral tooth using a spectrophotometer for both abutments. The CIE Lab* color scale was used, and values were calculated as ∆E. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test (α = 0.05).

The type of abutment did not significantly influence ∆E values at either the peri-implant soft tissue (p = 0.711) or coronal level (p = 0.094). Lower ∆E values were observed with gold-shaded titanium abutments at both soft-tissue (11.77 ± 6.9) and coronal level (10.42 ± 7.8) compared to titanium abutments (12.85 ± 4.5 and 10.53 ± 7.1, respectively). The mean peri-implant soft tissue thickness was 2.91 ± 0.89 mm.

Both titanium and gold-shaded titanium abutments resulted in perceptible color differences at soft tissue and coronal levels. Gold-shaded abutments yielded the lowest ∆E values. Peri-implant soft tissue thickness did not significantly affect the ∆E at the gingival level.

Gold-shaded titanium abutments demonstrated a tendency toward improved esthetic outcomes compared to conventional titanium abutments, suggesting their potential usefulness in anterior implant restorations.