Influence of a Laser-Lok Surface on Immediate Functional Loading of Implants in Single-Tooth Replacement: Three-Year Results of a Prospective Randomized Clinical Study on Soft Tissue Response and Esthetics.

The purpose of the present prospective randomized study was to evaluate the influence of Laser-Lok microtextured surface on soft tissue peri-implant 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-Laser-Lok-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.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes