The dental implant surface that elicits a true connective tissue attachment

Interimplant papillae are critical to achieving esthetic implant-supported restorations in the maxillary esthetic zone. Stable papillary anatomy, however, depends upon a stable volume of underlying crestal bone for support. Multiple studies have documented a critical interimplant distance of 3 mm, under which crestal bone resorption occurs. The current preclinical proof-of-principle canine study examines a novel implant-abutment system design, combining platform switching with precisely configured laser-ablated abutment and implant microgrooves to maintain interimplant crestal bone at interimplant distances of 2 and 4 mm. Results of this initial preclinical study suggest that it is possible through precise implant/abutment design modifications to place adjacent implants at distances of 2 to 4 mm without inducing subpapillary crestal bone loss. SOFT TISSUE FINDINGS Peri-implant soft tissues consisted of an epithelial barrier, with the sulcular epithelium merging with the junctional epithelium. The junctional epithelium ended abruptly at the coronal-most position of the abutment Laser-Lok microgrooves, where a zone of CT fibers appeared to enter perpendicularly into the microchanneled 0.7-mm tall band. In addition, CT fibers also appeared to enter into Laser-Lok regions of the implant collar, effectively sealing the IAJ microgap from surrounding tissues. Importantly, no evidence of an inflammatory infiltrate was found in any specimen at the IAJ. HARD TISSUE FINDINGS Interimplant crestal bone showed no evidence of bone resorption in any biopsy specimen at the end of 3 months. Significant bone-to-implant contact (BIC) was readily apparent along all aspects of the implant body and collar. In many specimens, regenerated bone was seen immediately proximal to the IAJ microgap. The apposition of both perpendicularly inserting CT fibers and bone onto the laser-ablated microchannels in the region of the IAJ microgap served to anatomically seal the IAJ from surrounding tissues and prevent migration of the junctional epithelium. Figure 1. Platformswitched Laser-Lok abutment and implant Figure 2. No signs of inter-implant crestal bone loss on implants placed 2mm apart Figure 3. Direct CT connection to LaserLok surfaces; osseous crest extends onto laser-ablated collar Figure 4. No crestal bone loss at 3 months; extensive implant-to-bone contact laser-ablated collar Challenging the Tarnow Rule with Tapered Plus LATEST IMPLANT RESEARCH