The clinical assessment of a ceramic-coated transmucosal dental implant collar

Int J Prosthodont. 1996 Sep-Oct;9(5):466-72.

Abstract

This study compared the superficial tissue responses to titanium and ceramic surfaces of transmucosal elements of established IMZ implants. In a splitmouth study on 14 patients with two mandibular implants and a bar-retained complete mandibular denture, a conventional titanium and a newly developed ceramic-coated transmucosal element were placed. A range of clinical parameters were recorded before transmucosal-element replacement and at 1, 4, and 12 weeks postplacement. A comparison of the recorded soft tissue responses revealed no significant differences between a group of implants fitted with ceramic-coated transmucosal elements and a group of contralateral implants fitted with titanium transmucosal elements. Further analysis suggested that the peri-implant soft tissues adjacent to titanium and ceramic surfaces may differ in features that are not apparent when routine clinical parameters are used. The plaque accumulation scores for ceramic-coated transmucosal elements were significantly lower than those recorded in titanium transmucosal elements. These results suggest that the further development of a ceramic implant transmucosal collar may assist plaque control at the soft tissue-implant interface and may favourably influence the tissues in this region. This investigation should be considered a pilot study in view of the duration of the observations and number of patients involved.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Ceramics
  • Dental Abutments*
  • Dental Implants* / adverse effects
  • Dental Plaque / etiology
  • Dental Plaque Index
  • Dental Prosthesis Design*
  • Female
  • Gingivitis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Periodontal Index
  • Pilot Projects
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium

Substances

  • Dental Implants
  • Titanium