Frank Schwarz1, Martin Sager2, Vladimir Golubovic1, Gerhard Iglhaut3,4, Kathrin Becker5. 1. Department of Oral Surgery, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. 2. ZETT Institute, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. Martin.Sager@med.uni-dueseldorf.de. 3. Oral Surgery Office, Memmingen, Germany. 4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, George-Augusta-University, Göttingen, Germany. 5. Department of Orthodontics, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To histologically assess the association between the horizontal mucosal thickness (MT) at implant sites with the integrity and thickness of the buccal bone plate in a canine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-piece titanium implants were placed at chronic-type lateral ridge defects. The resulting vestibular dehiscence-type defects (vertical dimensions of 2-8 mm) were left untreated. After a submerged healing period of 2 and 8 weeks (n = 6 fox hounds each), dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometrical analyses [e.g. MT, bone thickness (BT) and residual defect length]. RESULTS: Linear regression revealed significant associations between vestibular MT and BT values after 2 (R2 = 0.22, B = -0.37, P < 0.0001) and 8 weeks (R2 = 0.37, B = -0.45, P < 0.001) of healing. CONCLUSION: The present analysis has pointed to an inverse relationship between horizontal MT and BT values at the vestibular aspect of submerged titanium implants. MT was most pronounced in the absence of a buccal bone plate.
OBJECTIVES: To histologically assess the association between the horizontal mucosal thickness (MT) at implant sites with the integrity and thickness of the buccal bone plate in a canine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-piece titanium implants were placed at chronic-type lateral ridge defects. The resulting vestibular dehiscence-type defects (vertical dimensions of 2-8 mm) were left untreated. After a submerged healing period of 2 and 8 weeks (n = 6 fox hounds each), dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometrical analyses [e.g. MT, bone thickness (BT) and residual defect length]. RESULTS: Linear regression revealed significant associations between vestibular MT and BT values after 2 (R2 = 0.22, B = -0.37, P < 0.0001) and 8 weeks (R2 = 0.37, B = -0.45, P < 0.001) of healing. CONCLUSION: The present analysis has pointed to an inverse relationship between horizontal MT and BT values at the vestibular aspect of submerged titanium implants. MT was most pronounced in the absence of a buccal bone plate.