title: Influence of thin mucosal tissues on crestal bone stability around implants with platform switching: a 1-year pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this pilot study was to determine what effect thin mucosal tissues can have on crestal bone stability around implants with platform switching.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve 2-piece implants, consisting of 6 implants with horizontally matching implant-abutment connection (control) and 6 implants with platform switching (test) were placed in 4 patients. The mean age of the patients was 43 years (range, 37 to 56 yrs). Mucosal tissue thickness at implant sites was measured to be 2 mm or less. Implants were restored with 5 splinted crowns and single 3-unit fixed partial denture. Intraoral radiographs were obtained and crestal bone changes were measured at implant placement and after a 1-year follow-up post-treatment. The statistical significance level was set to P less than .05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bone loss around the test implants was 1.81 +/- 0.39 mm on the mesial site and 1.70 +/- 0.35 mm on the distal aspect. Control implants overcame marginal bone resorption equaling 1.60 +/- 0.46 mm on the mesial site and 1.76 +/- 0.45 mm on distal measurement. No statistically significant difference was found between control and test implants either mesially (F([1,10]) = 0.746; P = .408) or distally (F([1,10]) = 0.080; P = .783).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of this pilot study it can be concluded that implants with platform switching did not preserve crestal bone better in comparison with implants with traditional implant-abutment connection if, at the time of implant placement, thin mucosal tissues were present.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Institute of Odontology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. linktomo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Linkevicius
authors.forename: Peteris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apse
authors.forename: Simonas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grybauskas
authors.forename: Algirdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puisys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003442:Crowns; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000009:adverse effects; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D016348:Osseointegration; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants