The relationship between dental implant papilla and dental implant mucosa around single tooth implant in the esthetic area: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was (1) to evaluate the relationship between dental implant mucosa and dental implant papilla levels, and (2) to identify the clinical parameters associated with peri implant soft tissue stability over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective study on a cohort of patients seeking a single tooth implant therapy in a private practice in the Paris area. Two independent examiners analyzed photographs and radiographs taken the day of definitive crown load (baseline) and the last follow up visit (at least 12 months later) in order to measure 4 peri implant soft and hard tissue parameters. RESULTS Seventy four patients corresponding to 90 implants were analyzed. During a mean follow up of 53.88 months, 5 implants (5.6% presented with an apical displacement of the mid facial marginal mucosal level of at least 1 mm. Changes in the mid facial mucosa level were explained by changes in (i) the keratinized tissue height overtime (p<0.0001) (ii) changes in the papilla height (p<0.0001) and (iii) by the periodontal phenotype (p=0.007) A significant difference between papillae that gain in height (n=85) and papilla that lost height (n=78) was observed concerning (i) the timing of the implant placement (p=0.019) and (ii) the presence of an incomplete papilla fill (distance from the top of the papilla to the contact point) at baseline (p=0.004) CONCLUSIONS The present findings indicate a dependent association between dental implant mucosa and dental implant papilla levels. Stability of peri implant soft tissues depends on periodontal phenotype, keratinized tissue height and papilla height.
Clinical oral implants research