Clinical and radiographics results at 3 years of RCT with split-mouth design of submerged vs. nonsubmerged single laser-microgrooved implants in posterior areas

Aim To evaluate and compare radiographic crestal bone loss (CBL) and soft tissue parameters around submerged/two-stage and nonsubmerged/one-stage single implants with the same endosseous portion (body design and surface, thread design and distance) and identical intramucosal laser-microgrooved surface, after 3 years of loading. Materials and methods Twenty submerged/two-stage implants and 20 nonsubmerged/one-stage implants were placed randomly with a split-mouth design in the posterior areas of 20 partially edentulous patients. Radiographic and clinical examinations were carried out at the implant placement, at the delivery of prosthetic restorations, and at each year of the follow-up period. Plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and gingival recession (REC) were recorded. Radiographic crestal bone levels were assessed at the mesial and distal aspect of the implant sites. In addition, the influence of the vertical keratinized tissue thickness (KTT) on CBL was investigated. Results At the delivery of prosthetic restorations, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.013) was found in radiographic mean CBL between submerged and nonsubmerged implants (0.15 +/- 0.05 mm vs. 0.11 +/- 0.04 mm). At the end of the follow-up period, no statistical difference (P = 0.741) was found in the mean CBL between submerged and nonsubmerged implants (0.27 +/- 04 mm vs. 0.26 +/- 0.5 mm). The changes in the soft tissues including PI, PD, BOP, and REC had no significant differences in either group. Moreover, KTT did not show a statistical correlation with CBL. Conclusions After 3 years of loading, no statistical difference was noted in CBL and soft tissue conditions between single submerged two-stage and nonsubmerged one-stage laser-microgrooved implants.