A new cervical implant design compared with standard design in order to increase peri-implant hard and soft tissue behavior: histomorphometric and histological study in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate a new design of the cervical portion of dental implant with the objective to increase the volume of peri-implant tissues in the crestal area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight tapered dental titanium implants with internal conical connection were implanted in healed alveolar sites of six dogs. Twenty-four conventional implants design (C1 implant) formed the control group, and 24 new implant design (V3 implant) formed the test group. The groups were randomized. Histological, histomorphometric, and implant stability quotient were performed. After 12 weeks of healing period, histomorphometric analyses of the specimens were carried out to measure the crestal bone level values and the tissue thickness in the cervical implant portion. The data were compared using statistical tests (α = 5%).

RESULTS: The mean of the measurements in the buccal and lingual aspects measured of crestal bone level was 0.31 ± 0.24 mm and 0.30 ± 0.19 mm in the control group, respectively, and 0.71 ± 0.28 and 0.42 ± 0.30 mm in the test group, respectively, whereas the mean of the tissue thickness was 1.63 ± 0.33 mm and 2.04 ± 0.23 mm in the control group, respectively, and 2.11 ± 0.35 mm and 2.51 ± 0.41 mm in the test group.

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, our findings suggest that more thickness of peri-implant hard and soft tissues may be expected in this new implant design. However, the control group with traditional implant design was found to have more height values of the crestal bone compared with new V3 implants.