Influence of transmucosal designs of dental implant on tissue regeneration in beagle dogs

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of concave machined and concave microgrooved profiles of the transmucosal portion of implants on early peri-implant tissue regeneration. We assessed implants with 3 different transmucosal profiles: the bevel group that had only a bevel in the transmucosal part, bioseal group and bioseal/groove group that had a micro-groove in the S-shaped portion of the implant. A total of 36 implants (12 of each type) were placed in the edentulous mandibular ridges of 6 beagle dogs. We used radiographs to investigate the mesio-distal change of the marginal bone. Bucco-lingual bone resorption and soft tissue reactions were evaluated histologically. Radiographic and histological analysis did not show any difference in mesio-distal or bucco-lingual marginal bone resorption among any of the 3 groups (p > 0.05). The bioseal and bioseal/groove groups had more rigid connective tissue attachment than that in the bevel group. However, the bevel group had significantly long junctional epithelium attachment and the bioseal and bioseal/groove groups had long connective tissue attachment (p < 0.05). Implants with S-shaped concavity of the transmucosal portion resulted in a firmer connective tissue barrier, and thus, a better soft tissue regeneration, than implants with straight bevel.