title: Influence of occlusal loading on peri-implant clinical parameters. A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relation between occlusal loading and peri-implant clinical parameters (probing depth, bleeding on probing, gingival retraction, width of keratinized mucosa, and crevicular fluid volume) in patients with implant-supported complete fixed prostheses in both arches.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical study took place at the University of Valencia (Spain) dental clinic. It included patients attending the clinic for regular check-ups during at least 12 months after rehabilitation of both arches with implant-supported complete fixed ceramo-metallic prostheses. One study implant and one control implant were established for each patient using the T-Scan®III computerized system (Tesco, South Boston, USA). The maxillary implant closest to the point of maximum occlusal loading was taken as the study implant and the farthest (with least loading) as the control. Occlusal forces were registered with the T-Scan® III and then occlusal adjustment was performed to distribute occlusal forces correctly. Peri-implant clinical parameters were analyzed in both implants before and two and twelve months after occlusal adjustment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before occlusal adjustment, study group implants presented a higher mean volume of crevicular fluid (51.3 ± 7.4 UP) than the control group (25.8 ± 5.5 UP), with statistically significant difference. Two months after occlusal adjustment, there were no significant differences between groups (24.6 ± 3.8 UP and 26 ± 4.5 UP respectively) (p=0.977). After twelve months, no significant differences were found between groups (24.4 ± 11.1 UP and 22.5 ± 8.9 UP respectively) (p=0.323). For the other clinical parameters, no significant differences were identified between study and control implants at any of the study times (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study group implants receiving higher occlusal loading presented significantly higher volumes of crevicular fluid than control implants. Crevicular fluid volumes were similar in both groups two and twelve months after occlusal adjustment.
authors: Universidad de Valencia, Clínica Odontológica, Unidad de Cirugía Bucal, C/ Gascó Oliag 1, 46021 Valencia, Spain berta.garcia@uv.es.
authors: Hilario
authors: H
authors: Pellicer-Chover
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Viña-Almunia
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Romero-Millán
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Peñarrocha-Oltra
authors: Berta
authors: B
authors: García-Mira
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Peñarrocha-Diago
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors