title: Effect of mismatching abutments on implants with wider platforms--an experimental study in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of mismatching abutments on implants with a wider platform on the peri-implant hard tissue remodeling and the soft tissue dimensions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mandibular premolars and first molars of six Labrador dogs were extracted bilaterally. After 3 months of healing, one tapered implant was installed on each side of the mandibular molar region with the implant shoulder placed at the level of the buccal alveolar bony crest. On the right side of the mandible, an abutment of reduced diameter in relation to the platform of the implant was used, creating a mismatch of 0.85 mm (test), whereas an abutment of the same diameter of the implant platform was affixed in the left side of the mandible (control). The flaps were sutured to allow a non-submerged healing. After 4 months, the animals were sacrificed and ground sections were obtained for histometric assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All implants were completely osseo-integrated. Bone levels were superior at the test than at the control sites. However, statistically significant differences were found only at the buccal and proximal aspects. The soft tissue vertical dimension was higher at the control compared with the test sites. However, statistically significant differences were demonstrated only at the buccal aspects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A mismatch of 0.85 mm between the implant and the abutment yielded more coronal levels of bone-to-implant contact and a reduced height of the peri-implant soft tissue (biologic width), especially at the buccal aspect, if the implant shoulder was placed flush with the level of the buccal alveolar bony crest.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gabriele M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Baffone
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botticelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canullo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beolchini
authors.forename: Niklaus P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004285:Dogs; D016348:Osseointegration; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants