Histologic and histomorphometric evaluation of minicono abutment on implant surrounding tissue healing and bone resorption on implants placed in healed bone. An experimental study in dogs

The objective of this evaluation was to measure the width and length of connective tissue (CT) and crestal bone resorption (CBR) related to minicono® abutment inserted in conical connection dental implants, which were placed crestal and subcrestally in a dog's mandible. Materials and Methods Forty-eight Top DM implants with the same coronal diameter were placed at the crestal level, 1 mm (test 1 group) and 2 mm (test 2 group) positions underneath buccal-lingual bone crests. Dental implants used in the study were separated into three groups of 16 implants each. The implants were randomly inserted into healed bone after two months post-extraction sockets of three lower premolars, and first molar, bilaterally in six male fox hound dogs. One 3 mm minicono height abutment was connected to conical connection implants placed at the crestal level (control), 1 mm (test 1) and 2 mm (test 2) positions under buccal-lingual crests. Results All abutments and implants used were clinically and histologically integrated into the bone-soft tissue. Soft tissue behavior was observed at eight and 12 weeks in all test groups, displaying similar quantitative findings with significant differences (p > 0.05). However, crestal bone loss was significantly greater at the buccal side around that control group compared to the test 1 and 2 groups. The difference values between groups at the implant shoulder to the top of the lingual bone crest (IS-LBC) and the implant shoulder to the top of the buccal bone crest (IS-BBC) were significantly greater for the test 2 group in comparison with the other two groups (p < 0.05) at eight weeks. In addition, crestal bone resorption (CBR) increased in the crestal group at twelve weeks, but it was reduced for the test 1 and test 2 groups in implants placed sub-crestally (p < 0.05). Conclusions Crestal bone loss could be reduced using a 3 mm high abutment on implants submerged below the bone crest from 1 to 2 mm positions.