Peri-Implant Mucosal Level in Patients Treated with Implant-Supported Fixed Prostheses: A 1-Year Follow-up Study

Peri-Implant Mucosal Level in Patients Treated with Implant-Supported Fixed Prostheses: A 1-Year Follow-up Study
September/October 2003
Anders Ekfeldt, LDS, Odont Dr/PhD/Anders Eriksson, LDS/Lars-?÷ke Johansson, LDS
International Journal of Prosthodontics, Volume 16, Issue 5
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Purpose: The purpose of this follow-up study was to quantify the change in the periimplant mucosal level after treatment of edentulous patients with fixed prostheses on osseointegrated endosseous implants.
Materials and Methods: Twenty patients were included in the study: 10 were treated in the maxilla, and 10 were treated in the mandible. Both groups had fixed prostheses on osseointegrated Br?ïnemark implants. Periimplant mucosal level was measured with a calibrated probe after removal of the prostheses at the 1-year follow-up. These measurements were compared to those made on the original master casts.
Results: A larger mean retraction (ÇƒÏ) was observed in the mandible (ÇƒÏ1.6 mm) compared to the maxilla (ÇƒÏ0.8 mm), but there was great variation. The individual values varied from ÇƒÏ4.5 to +1.0 mm in the mandible and from ÇƒÏ6.0 to +6.0 mm in the maxilla.
Conclusion: Peri-implant soft tissue recession occurs during the first year in edentulous jaws after treatment with implant-supported fixed prostheses and more so in the maxilla than the mandible. Int J Prosthodont 2003;16:529ÇƒÏ532.