title: The Implant Biologic Pontic Designed Interface: Description of the Technique and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to evaluate clinically the thickness of the alveolar ridge mucosa underneath a zirconia implant-supported restoration with a modified ovate pontic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients, 32 women and 33 men (mean age: 65.5 years; range 38-81), were included. A total of 383 implants (303 in the maxilla; 80 in the mandible), supporting 81 full or partial fixed dental prostheses (65 in the maxilla; 16 in the mandible), were either cement- or screw-retained. Three years after loading, a total of 219 pontic sites (153 in the maxilla; 66 in the mandible) were measured, and the thickness of the alveolar ridge mucosa between the prosthetic surface and the underlying bone crest were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall implant and prosthesis survival rates at 3 years were 98.7% and 100%, respectively. No implant complications were reported, scoring a cumulative implant success rate of 100%. In the maxilla, the overall mean thickness of the alveolar ridge mucosa was 2.32 ± 0.57 mm. In the mandible, the overall mean thickness of the alveolar ridge mucosa was 2.20 ± 0.62 mm. There was no statistical difference between the overall mean values in the maxilla and mandible (p = .471).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This radiologic retrospective study suggests the existence of a physiological barrier, named prosthetic biological width, underneath a novel pontic-designed restoration.
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Pozzi
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Tallarico
authors: Surgical Implant Dentistry, West Coast Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Peter K
authors: PK
authors: Moy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000069343:Bone-Implant Interface / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods; D003779:Denture Design; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: biologic width; dental implants; pontic; soft tissue conditioning; zirconia