The prosthetic abutment height can affect marginal bone loss around dental implants

BackgroundMarginal bone loss (MBL) is considered an important determinant of implant success, and establishing the peri-implant biological width has been regarded to influence MBL around implants. However, few studies have attempted to show the relationship between the crown/abutment gap and MBL. PurposeTo evaluate the effect of the prosthetic abutment height on MBL of dental implants. Materials and MethodsThis study evaluated data which were retrospectively collected through chart and panoramic radiographs of 145 patients (78 males and 67 females; aged 19 to 79years, mean age 54.1 years) in whom 273 implants were placed by a single clinician between June 2009 and December 2014. The abutment height and the bone level were measured in digital panorama radiographs. All correlations between abutment height and MBL were analyzed using Spearman's test (P<.05). ResultsThe 273 implants comprised 126 in 67 female patients and 147 in 78 male patients. The mean age of the patients was 54.1 years (range 19-79years). The prevalence of MBL and the mean MBL decreased as the abutment height increased. Spearman's test showed a significant negative correlation between abutment height and MBL (P<.05). ConclusionThe present study suggests that implants with a higher prosthetic abutment show less MBL, with the abutment height recommended to not exceed 4 mm.