title: The level of buccal gingival margin around single and two adjacent implant restorations: a preliminary result.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information is available about the buccal gingival level of multiple implant restorations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between width and height of buccal soft tissue around single and 2 adjacent implant restorations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four implant restoration groups (first and second molars, single second molars, posterior single restorations between teeth, and anterior single restorations between teeth) were randomly chosen from one dental institute. Each group comprised of 6 patients. After 6 months of function, silicone impressions were taken and stone models were fabricated for each restoration group. The stone models were cut in bucco-lingual direction at the most apical point of buccal gingival margin. The height and width of buccal supra-implant soft tissue were measured. One way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc tests were performed to analyze the data obtained (P < .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most unfavorable width-height ratio was noted for the group, which was comprised of the second molar in the multiple adjacent (first and second molar) implant-supported restorations. The group also resulted in the shorter height of buccal supra-implant mucosa rather than that of anterior single implant restorations between natural teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To achieve a favorable level of buccal gingival margin, greater thickness of buccal supra-implant mucosa is required for the implant restorations without a neighboring natural tooth compared to the implant restorations next to a natural tooth.
authors.affiliation: Former Graduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, Yonsei University Dental Hospital, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: June-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Chong-Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sun-Jai
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim