Clinical and histological comparison of the soft tissue morphology between zirconia and titanium dental implants under healthy and experimental mucositis conditions—A randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES To analyse the soft tissue morphology under healthy and experimental mucositis conditions comparing zirconia titanium implants. METHODS Forty-two patients with two adjacent missing teeth received one (Zr) (Ti) implant, mesial distal position randomized. At 3 months, half of were instructed to continue (healthy; h) other omit (experimental mucositis; m) oral hygiene around implants for 3 weeks. Clinical parameters evaluated before after phase, a biopsy was harvested. Mixed model analyses performed data. RESULTS The plaque control record increased significantly groups, reaching 68.3 ± 31.9% (mean ± SD) Zr-m 75.0 ± 29.4% Ti-m (p < .0001), being also lower than Ti-m. Bleeding on probing remained stable in group amounted 21.7 ± 23.6%, but (p = .040), measuring 32.5 ± 27.8%. number inflammatory cells length junctional epithelium did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION Both rendered similar outcomes conditions. Lower bleeding scores detected Histologically, only minimal differences observed.