Clinical and radiographic outcome of dental implants supporting fixed prostheses:  the relevance of cortical bone formation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the hard and the soft tissue parameters around implants supporting fixed prostheses over a period of 5 years and the possible association to the increase in periimplant bone density (IPBD).


METHODS
A total of 39 dental implants placed in 29 patients were included in the study. Periimplant clinical (gingival index, probing depth, keratinized mucosa, sulcus fluid flow rate) and radiographic variables (bone loss, bone density) were collected, and the data analysis performed.


RESULTS
Periimplant hard and soft tissue parameters remained stable throughout the follow-up period. Of the 39 implants, 20 demonstrated IPBD. The mean distance between first bone-to-implant contact and the microgap for implants with and without IPBD was significantly different at 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year follow-up. The evidence of IPBD demonstrated no influence on the periimplant soft tissue parameters. All mean values of bone density for implants with IPBD were higher than those for implants without IPBD throughout the whole observation period.


CONCLUSIONS
All implants were clinically successful over the period of follow-up. IPBD might be more indicative of a stable periimplant bone level.
Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
Nikola
N
Saulacic
Marcus
M
Abboud
Yango
Y
Pohl
Gerhard
G
Wahl
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003442:Crowns; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015921:Dental Implants; D007633:Keratins