The influence of healing type on marginal bone levels of implants supporting mandibular overdentures: a randomized clinical study.

AIM The aim of this study was to document the influence of healing type on the marginal bone loss around dental implants placed in the anterior mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 48 edentulous patients rehabilitated with 96 Astra Tech dental implants left to either submerged or nonsubmerged healing were included in the study group. The patients were examined in consecutive routine recall sessions six, 12, and 24 months after loading. The actual bone level measurements were performed by two independent examiners on panoramic X-rays, and the average of both examiners' calculations was used as the marginal bone level value. RESULTS The marginal bone loss (MBL) of the implants at 6 months was found to be significantly higher in the submerged healing group (P< 0.05). No statistically significant relation was found between the MBL of implants left to submerged healing and that of implants left to non-submerged healing in the other follow-up periods. CONCLUSION In situations where the dental implant has good primary stability, non-submerged healing can be recommended to avoid a second surgery for healing abutment connection.