The influence of the masticatory mucosa on the peri-implant soft tissue condition

The aim of this study was to evaluate the soft tissue conditions at osseo-integrated oral implants in relation to the width of masticatory mucosa. Thirty-nine patients who had received a full-arch fixed bridge reconstruction > or = 10 years ago or a partial reconstruction > or = 5 years ago on a total of 171 implants ad modum Brånemark were included in the study. The examinations involved assessments of plaque, gingivitis, bleeding on probing, probing depth, width of masticatory mucosa and marginal tissue mobility. Simple correlation analysis as well as multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate relationships between recorded parameters. The results showed that 24% of the sites were lacking masticatory mucosa, and an additional 13% of the implants had a width of less than 2 mm. Mobility of the facial marginal soft tissue, i.e., lack of an attached portion of masticatory mucosa, was observed at 61% of all implants. No major differences in the clinical parameters examined were found between sites with and without an "adequate" width of masticatory mucosa. Multiple regression analyses revealed that neither the width of masticatory mucosa nor the mobility of the border tissue had a significant influence on (i) the standard of plaque control or (ii) the health condition of the peri-implant mucosa, as determined by bleeding on probing. Hence, the study failed to support the concept that the lack of an attached portion of masticatory mucosa may jeopardize the maintenance of soft tissue health around dental implants.