title: Clinical and radiologic outcomes after submerged and transmucosal implant placement with two-piece implants in the anterior maxilla and mandible: 3-year results of a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the 3-year outcomes regarding crestal bone level, clinical parameters, and patient satisfaction, following submerged and transmucosal implant placement for two-piece implants in the anterior maxilla and mandible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients requiring dental implants for single-tooth replacement in the anterior maxilla or mandible were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial. The implants were randomized at placement to either submerged or transmucosal healing, with final restorations placed after 6 months. Radiographic and clinical parameters were recorded after 1, 2, and 3 years; a questionnaire was also used to assess patient satisfaction. A two-sided, unpaired T-test (significance level p ≤ .05) was used to statistically evaluate the differences between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 106 patients were included in the 3-year analysis. The mean change in crestal bone level from implant placement to 3 years was 0.68 ± 0.98 mm (p < .001) and 0.58 ± 0.77 mm (p < .001) in the submerged and transmucosal groups, respectively; the differences between the groups were not significant. Clinical parameters remained stable throughout the study, with no significant differences between the groups, and patient satisfaction was good or excellent for over 90% of subjects in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate excellent clinical and radiographic conditions after 3 years for implants supporting single-tooth restorations, regardless of whether a submerged or transmucosal surgical technique was used.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Carl-Johan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ivanoff
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weingart
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiltfang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gahlert
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cordaro
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ganeles
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bragger
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jackowski
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hammerle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: clinical and radiological outcomes; controlled clinical trial; dental implants; submerged; transmucosal placement