The evaluation of the morphological evolution of the tissue integration of dental implants through conventional histology and immunohistochemistry techniques.

Soft peri-implant tissues are important to ensure the integration of a dental implant, and information on their morphophysiology may explain some clinical failures. Through this study, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of the behavior of peri-implant soft tissue, the morphological support being the one that can explain the different clinical situations. Thus, we sought to reconcile clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) aspects of soft peri-implant tissue, in patients who did not show clinical mobility or radiological signs of bone resorption four months after insertion of implants, some of them showing no clinical signs of inflammation. Immunohistochemically, we highlighted the cellular populations participating in the inflammatory process present in the peri-implant mucosa, in the two groups of patients. The IHC identification of these types of cells and the degree to which each of them was represented by the use of monoclonal antibodies can provide additional insight into the local response of peri-implant soft tissue in healing and osseointegration. This helps the clinician to improve the clinical success of dental implant treatment because the soft tissue surrounding the dental implant separates the implant from the oral cavity and makes a biological seal that prevents the development of the peri-implant pathology. Thus, the soft tissue surrounding the dental implants ensures the conditions of osseointegration and hence the long-term survival of an implant.