title: Connective tissue attachment to laser-microgrooved abutments: a human histologic case report.
abstract: Previous preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of precisely configured laser-ablated microgrooves placed on implant collars to allow direct connective tissue attachment to the implant surface. A recent canine study examining laser-ablated microgrooves placed in a defined healing abutment area demonstrated similar findings. In both instances, direct connective tissue attachment to the implant-abutment surface served as an obstacle to the apical migration of the junctional epithelium, thus preventing crestal bone resorption. The current case report examines the effectiveness of abutment-positioned laser-ablated microgrooves in human subjects. As in the preclinical trial, precisely defined laser-ablated microgrooves allowed direct connective tissue attachment to the altered abutment surface, prevented apical migration of the junctional epithelium, and thus protected the crestal bone from premature resorption.
authors.affiliation: Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Periodontology, Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston MA 02115, USA. nevinsperimp@aol.com
authors.forename: Myron
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nevins
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camelo
authors.forename: Marc L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nevins
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schupbach
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000044:Dental Abutments; D045662:Dental Etching / Q000379:methods*; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D007834:Lasers; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology