Comparison of Two Dental Implant Types and Placement Depths on Bone Around the Implant in Adults Missing Back Teeth

The goal of this clinical trial was to compare two ways of placing and restoring dental implants in adults missing one or more back teeth. The main question it aimed to answer was: does a bone-level implant placed 2 mm below the bone crest, with a final abutment that is never removed, preserve more of the bone around the implant than a tissue-level implant placed at the level of the bone crest? Each implant was randomly assigned by coin toss to one of the two treatments. Researchers measured the bone level around the implants on dental X-rays at crown placement, 6 months after loading, and at a final visit 12 to 24 months after loading. They also measured two markers of inflammation (IL-1β and MMP-8) in the fluid around the implants 6 months after loading.