DO HEALING ABUTMENTS INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF IMPLANT TREATMENT - A 3-YEAR MULTICENTER STUDY

Statement of the problem. It is not known if healing abutments replace d subsequently with permanent abutments adversely affect the soft tiss ues and marginal bone levels around dental implants. Purpose. This stu dy evaluated the mucosal condition and marginal bone levels 3 pears af ter placement of healing abutments in patients provided with fixed pro stheses supported by Branemark implants. Material and methods. Data we re analyzed retrospectively from 117 patients treated at five centers in which 318 healing abutments were placed on maxillary and 112 on man dibular implants. A prospective 3 year appraisal with a specific proto col assessed the response of mucosal cuffs and marginal bone levels su rrounding surviving implants. Results. Exchange of abutments did not a ffect expected survival rates of implants (94% maxilla, 99% mandible) or produce mean levels of marginal bone loss greater than anticipated for the system. Mean marginal bone levels correlated significantly wit h the jaw. Most: patients achieved good oral hygiene and favorable per i-implant soft tissue health. Conclusion. No evidence was found to sug gest abutment exchange adversely affects outcome of implant treatment.