Dental implant treatment for two adjacent missing teeth in the maxillary aesthetic zone: a comparative pilot study and test of principle.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective comparative pilot study was to evaluate hard and soft peri-implant tissues in patients with a missing adjacent central and lateral upper incisor treated with either one implant and an implant crown with a cantilever or two implants with solitary implant crowns up to 1 year after functional loading.


METHODS
In the "Implant-cantilever group", five patients were treated with one dental implant in the region of the central incisor (NobelReplace Groovy Regular Platform). In the "Implant-implant group", five patients were treated with two adjacent dental implants: at the position of the central incisor (NobelReplace Groovy Regular Platform) and at the position of the lateral incisor (NobelReplace Groovy Narrow Platform). Implant survival, pocket probing depth, papilla index, marginal bone level and patient satisfaction were assessed during a 1-year follow-up period.


RESULTS
No implants were lost during the 1-year follow-up. Mean pocket probing values of the implants were comparable between the two groups. Papilla index scores in both groups were relatively low, pointing towards a compromised papilla. Marginal bone loss was minimal and comparable between the groups. Patient satisfaction was very high in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In this 1-year prospective comparative study, no large differences in hard- and soft-tissue levels could be shown between patients with a missing central and lateral upper incisor treated with either one implant and an implant crown with a cantilever or two implants with solitary implant crowns.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Nynke
N
Tymstra
Gerry M
GM
Raghoebar
Arjan
A
Vissink
Henny J A
HJ
Meijer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome