title: Dimension of interproximal soft tissue between adjacent implants in two distinctive implant systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to compare the dimension of interproximal soft tissue between adjacent implants in distinctive implant systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 85 interproximal papillae between two adjacent implants in 50 patients who had implants placed adjacent to each other and who had prosthesis in place for longer than 1 year. The shortest distance between the radiopaque material on the tip of interimplant papilla and the most coronal portion of the interimplant crestal bone was measured (radiographic length of papilla [RL]). The horizontal distance (HD) between the two adjacent implants was measured at the fixture-abutment interface level. Considering the possible effect of interimplant crestal bone resorption on closely implanted sites, HDs were divided into two categories: HD <3 and >or=3 mm. The Mann-Whitney test was performed to find the difference in the dimension of interimplant papilla.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cases of HD <3 mm, RL did not differ statistically in both systems. Also, in cases of HD >3 mm, RL did not show a statistically significant difference in both systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both systems had similar dimensions of interproximal soft tissue between adjacent implants, irrespective of the horizontal distance of the fixture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Yongdong Severance Hospital, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ik-Sang
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants