A COMPARISON OF RADIOGRAPHIC BONE HEIGHT AND PROBING ATTACHMENT LEVELMEASUREMENTS ADJACENT TO POROUS-COATED DENTAL IMPLANTS IN HUMANS

The changes in crestal bone height observed in standardized radiograph s of porous-coated dental implants after 3 to 4 years of function in t he support of mandibular overdentures is reported for a group of 48 co mpletely edentulous patients. Possible correlations between bone heigh t and each of probing attachment level, Plaque Index, and Sulcular Ble eding Index were investigated. Mean bone loss values were determined t o be 0.43 mm in year 1, decreasing to 0.17 mm and 0.13 mm in years 2 a nd 3, respectively. During year 4, there was an apparent mean gain of 0.05 mm. While the mean mucosal tissue thickness (1.3 mm) was similar to that reported by other investigators, it was not possible to show a correlation between bone height and probing attachment level. Likewis e, correlations between bone height and Plaque Index or between bone h eight and Sulcular Bleeding Index could not be demonstrated.