Comparison of Narrow and Regular Implants

Fifty-one participants and 123 dental implants were evaluated; twenty-three participants and 49 dental implants were excluded because of the different commercial brand dental implant (AstraTech, Straumann Roxolid, Bilimplant) and declining to participate. Seventy-four TiUnite dental implants were included in the study, but 8 TiUnite surface implants placed in the anterior region were excluded. Consequently, 15 male and 13 female patients and 66 dental implants were included in the study. This randomized retrospective clinical trial was designed according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement guidelines. A CONSORT Flow Chart of this study was shown in Figure 118.

The assignment was performed according to the dental implant diameters to include cases in the NPI and RPI which are the test and control groups. All dental implants involved are the Nobel Biocare Parallel CC brand (Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) with a TiUnite surface, and it defined a regular diameter of 4.3 mm and narrow diameter of 3.75 mm. Dental implants divided into two groups according to implant diameter, the NPI group comprised 3.75 mm diameter (NP, Ø= 3.75 mm) implants, and the RPI group comprised 4.3 mm diameter (RP, Ø= 4.3mm) implants (implant lengths: 10 mm-13 mm).

Clinical Measurements The clinical measurements were recorded at follow-up sessions using a periodontal probe that was calibrated in 1 mm increments. The clinical measurements were as follows: 1) plaque index (PI); 2) gingival index (GI); 3) probing depth (PD), the distance between the gingival margin and the bottom of a pocket; 4) clinical attachment level (CAL); the distance from the neck of the implant and the bottom of the pocket; 5) bleeding on probing (BOP); 6) keratinized gingival width (KGW), the height of peri-implant keratinized mucosa; 7) gingival recession (GR), the distance between the neck of the implant and the gingival margin. The same researcher performed all clinical measurements. A calibration protocol was applied to the reliability of measurements. PI, GI, PD, CAL, GR, KGW meaurements on five patients and ten peri-implant values were assessed. Calibration was accepted when measurements were 90% similar20. All clinical measurements were recorded for four sites (mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mid-buccal, mesiopalatal, midpalatal, and distopalatal) per peri-implant region. PD and PI measurements are reliable in peri-implantitis diagnosis21.

Prosthetic complications of patients were also evaluated clinically. Veneer ceramic chipping, abutment screw loosening or fracture, implant fracture, loss of retention were recorded.

Radiographic Measurements The studies have reported that periapical radiographs taken with the parallel technique are reliable in determining the MBL changes at different follow-ups. Digital periapical radiographs of the posterior region were obtained using a parallel method at follow-up sessions. MBL measurements were provided on periapical radiographs by a software program (Mediadent Software, The Dental Imaging Company, London, England). Ten radiographic MBL measurements around peri-implant were performed twice with an interval of 3 weeks, and researcher calibration was accepted when measurements were similar as %90. MBL was measured separately from the mesial and distal parts and also which the average of the two measurements. The reference points for the assessments are the implant shoulder and the most apical end-point of the bone-implant contact point. The vertical length between these two points is defined as MBL.