Immediate Post-Extractive Single Implant in the Molar Region Using Two Different Healing Abutments: A Randomized...

This study aimed to compare marginal bone loss at immediately placed molar implants using customized healing abutments versus conventional healing abutments assessed via intraoral radiographs at 12 months follow-up.

A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted involving 36 patients who received 36 immediate implants: 18 with customized healing abutments (Group A) and 18 with conventional healing abutments (Group B). Marginal bone level changes was evaluated radiographically, alongside clinical assessment of covariates in-cluding keratinized mucosa, buccal plate thickness, soft tissue thickness at 2 mm and 3 mm, vertical soft tissue thickness, and gap dimension. Simple and multiple linear re-gression models were applied to analyze bone level changes. Unadjusted beta coeffi-cients and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained. Conventional tests (Chi2, Fisher's exact test, Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U-test) were used at patient level.

Thirty-six patients were randomized evenly between groups, with 32 implants functional at 12 months, corresponding to a cumulative survival rate of 94.11% in both groups. Mean marginal bone level changes was significantly lower in Group A (0.51 ± 0.42 mm) compared to Group B (1.34 ± 0.75 mm), with a beta coefficient of -0.83 (p < 0.001). None of the assessed covariates showed a significant influence on bone loss.

The use of customized healing abutments in immediate molar implant pla-cement may enhance treatment outcomes by improving peri-implant marginal bone sta-bility and supporting successful osseointegration.