A 4-year prospective study to assess peri-implant hard and soft tissues adjacent to titanium versus gold-alloy abutments in cemented single implant crowns.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to compare titanium and gold-alloy abutments when used with cemented, implant-supported single-tooth crowns. For 4 years following prosthodontic rehabilitation, these abutments were evaluated with respect to peri-implant marginal bone levels and peri-implant soft tissue parameters.


METHODS
During the years 1998 to 2000, 20 patients were selected from a patient population receiving treatment in the Implantology Department at the University of Padova, Italy. They all presented with single-tooth bilateral edentulous sites in the premolar/molar region with adequate bone width, similar bone height on each side, and an occlusal scheme that allowed for the establishment of identical occlusal cusp/fossa contacts on each side. Each subject received two identical implants (one in each edentulous site). One was randomly selected to be restored with a titanium abutment and a cemented implant-supported single-tooth crown, and the other was restored with a gold-alloy abutment and a cemented implant-supported single tooth crown. Data on peri-implant marginal bone levels and soft tissue parameters were collected for 4 years after abutment and crown insertion placement and analyzed to determine whether there was a significant (p< .001) difference with respect to the type of abutments (titanium vs. gold alloy) used.


RESULTS
All subjects completed the study. All 40 implants survived, resulting in a cumulative implant success rate of 100%. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups with respect to peri-implant marginal bone levels and soft tissue parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of this study, the results indicate that there was no evidence of different response with the peri-implant marginal bone and soft tissue when titanium or gold-alloy abutments were used in conjunction with the cemented, single-tooth implant restorations provided for this limited patient population. There was no evidence of different behavior of peri-implant marginal bone and of peri-implant soft tissue when titanium abutments or gold-alloy abutments were used for cemented single-tooth implant restorations in this limited patient population.
Vigolo
Paolo
P
Department of Clinical Odontostomatology, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. paolovigolo@virgilio.it
Givani
Andrea
A
Majzoub
Zeina
Z
Cordioli
Giampiero
G
D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000209:etiology*; D000044:Dental Abutments / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006046:Gold / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014025:Titanium / Q000009:adverse effects*
D006046:Gold; D014025:Titanium