Clinical and radiographic outcome of dental implants supporting fixed prostheses: the relevance of cortical bone formation.

Purpose: To evaluate the hard and the soft tissue parameters around implants supporting fixed prostheses over a period of 5 years and the possible association to the increase in periimplant bone density (IPBD).

Material And Methods: A total of 39 dental implants placed in 29 patients were included in the study. Periimplant clinical (gingival index, probing depth, keratinized mucosa, sulcus fluid flow rate) and radiographic variables (bone loss, bone density) were collected, and the data analysis performed.

Results: Periimplant hard and soft tissue parameters remained stable throughout the follow-up period. Of the 39 implants, 20 demonstrated IPBD. The mean distance between first bone-to-implant contact and the microgap for implants with and without IPBD was significantly different at 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year follow-up. The evidence of IPBD demonstrated no influence on the periimplant soft tissue parameters. All mean values of bone density for implants with IPBD were higher than those for implants without IPBD throughout the whole observation period.

Conclusion: All implants were clinically successful over the period of follow-up. IPBD might be more indicative of a stable periimplant bone level.