Abstract:

Objective To analyze the relationship between implant placement methods and the change of alveolar crest mucosal thickness under different gingival thickness. Methods A total of 98 patients with posterior tooth loss from June 2022 to December 2022 were selected, and a total of 120 implants were implanted. There were 90 samples in the thin gingiva group (gingiva thickness <3 mm) and 30 samples in the thick gingiva group (gingiva thickness≥3 mm). For the thin gingival cases, three different surgical methods were used for one-stage implantation. Group A (32 teeth) received ridge trimming before implantation. In group B, 30 implants were placed under the bone. In group C, 28 teeth used tent technique to analyze the vertical soft tissue thickness changes of alveolar crest before and 3~4 months after osseointegration. Results The thin gingival group was treated with three different treatments A, B and C. The gingival thickness increased from H_a(1.96±0.35)mm, H_b(1.89±0.42)mm, H_c(1.96±0.29)mm to H'_a(2.88±0.23)mm, H'_b(2.93±0.30)mm, H'_c(2.65±0.22)mm, respectively. The alveolar crest vertical mucosal thickness of the three groups increased significantly (P<0.05). The increase in group A and B (about 1 mm) was slightly higher than that in group C (about 0.6 mm), while there was no significant difference between the control group H_d(3.60±0.24)mm and H'_d(3.36±0.47)mm (P>0.05). In addition, the intraoperative gingival thickness measurements (H_a, H_b, H_c, H_d) were basically consistent with the CBCT imaging measurements (H_A, H_B, H_C, H_D), and there was no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion Careful analysis of the vertical thickness of the alveolar crest to the mucosa before implant surgery and selection of different implantation methods can increase the vertical thickness of the alveolar crest to the appropriate position, thereby maintaining the stability of the bone around the implant and improving the success rate of the implant.

Key words: alveolar crest, mucosal thickness, biological width, thick gingival type, thin gingival type