Radiographic analysis of crestal bone levels around Laser-Lok collar dental implants.

This retrospective radiographic study was organized to evaluate the clinical efficacy of implants with Laser-Lok microtexturing (8- and 12-microm grooves). A physical attachment of connective tissue fibers to the Laser-Lok microtexturing on the implant collar has been previously demonstrated using human histology, polarized light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. This analysis of 49 implants demonstrated a mean crestal bone loss of 0.44 mm at 2 years postrestoration and 0.46 mm at 3 years. All bone loss was contained within the height of the collar, and no bone loss was evident to the level of the implant threads. The radiographic evaluation of the clinical application of this implant supports previous findings that establishing a biologic seal of connective tissue fibers around a dental implant may be clinically relevant.