Labial bone thickness in area of anterior maxillary implants associated with crestal labial soft tissue thickness.

Objective: To explore the relationship between implant's labial bone thickness (ILBT) and crestal labial soft tissue thickness (CLSTT).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study used records of 32 (22 females and 10 males) patients who had 2 implants placed in their maxillary arch (64 implants; diameter range, 3.3-4.6 mm) between the canines at either maxillary lateral incisor (7 and 10) or central incisor (8 and 9) region. All patients had diagnostic and postoperative cone beam computed tomography scans; the ILBT at the crestal and midimplant levels were recorded. CLSTT was measured approximately 4 months after the placement of implants using a digital caliper at the crestal level.

Results: Mean (standard deviation) CLSTT and ILBT at crestal and at midimplant levels were 2.45 (0.88), 1.79 (0.68), and 2.33 (1.01) mm, respectively. Overall, 26 implants had prior bone augmentation. Significant relationships between the CLSTT and ILBT at crestal (Spearman's rho = 0.720) and midimplant levels (Spearman's rho = 0.707) were observed (P < 0.001). The determination coefficients (R) between CLSTT and ILBT at crestal and midimplant levels were 0.649 and 0.542, respectively. Following regression equations were produced: CLSTT = 1.043 * ILBT (crestal level) + 0.586 and CLSTT = 0.955 * ILBT (midimplant level) + 0.955.

Conclusion: Based on this study, CLSTT and ILBT were highly associated in the anterior maxillary region.