Impact of mucosal phenotype on marginal bone levels around tissue level implants: A prospective controlled trial.

Background: The aim of this 1-year prospective clinical trial was to compare clinical parameters and marginal bone levels (MBLs) around tissue level implants with a partially smooth collar between patients with thin (≤2 mm) and thick (>2 mm) vertical mucosal phenotypes.

Methods: Thirty patients needing a single dental implant were recruited and allocated to thin (n = 14) or thick (n = 16) phenotype groups. Post-restoration, clinical (probing depth, recession, width of keratinized mucosa, bleeding on probing, suppuration, implant mobility, plaque index, and gingival index) and radiographic bone level measurements were recorded at different timepoints for 1 year.

Results: Twenty-six patients (13 per group) completed the 1-year examination. No implants were lost (100% survival rate). There were no significant differences (P >0.05) between thin and thick vertical mucosal phenotypes for any clinical parameter or for the radiographic MBL.

Conclusions: Tissue level implants at 1 year of function placed in thin vertical mucosa achieved similar clinical parameters and radiographic MBLs as those in thick tissue. The formation of the peri-implant supracrestal tissue height plays a key role in MBL than mucosal thickness in tissue level implant.