The dental implant surface that elicits a true connective tissue attachment

The purpose of the present prospective randomized study was to evaluate the influence of Laser-Lok microtextured surface on soft tissue periimplant parameters and esthetics around immediate, functionally loaded implants for single-tooth replacement in the esthetic zone. This study included 77 patients divided into two groups based on different implants used: the control group had BioHorizons tapered internal non-LaserLok-type implants (NLL; n = 39) and the test group had BioHorizons tapered internal Laser-Lok-type implants (LL; n = 39). Outcome measures were survival, radiographic marginal bone-level changes, soft tissue parameters, and esthetics. One implant was lost in the test group and one in the control group, for a total survival rate of 96.1% after 3 years. Radiographically, mean crestal bone loss ± standard deviation was 0.59 ± 0.27 mm in the LL group compared with 1.17 ± 0.31 mm in the NLL group. A mean gain in papilla level of 0.41 ± 0.34 mm and 0.17 ± 0.36 mm was observed in the LL and the NLL groups, respectively, while the level of the midfacial peri-implant mucosa remained stable in both groups with no statistically significant differences (0.08 ± 0.42 mm for the LL group vs 0.06 ± 0.36 mm for the NLL group). The mean probing depth values in the LL and NLL groups were 0.58 ± 0.2 mm and 1.89 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. Within the limitations of this study, it was demonstrated that the clinical and esthetic outcome of immediate functional loading was more favorable for LL implants than for NLL implants. 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. Randomized, prospective three year study LATEST IMPLANT RESEARCH Figure 1: Frequency distribution of Papilla Index scores at 3 years. LL = Laser=Lok; NLL = no Laser-Lok. 60