Dimension of interproximal soft tissue between adjacent implants in two distinctive implant systems

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the dimension of interproximal soft tissue between adjacent implants in distinctive implant systems. Methods: This study involved 85 interproximal papillae between two adjacent implants in 50 patients who had implants placed adjacent to each other and who had prosthesis in place for longer than 1 year. The shortest distance between the radiopaque material on the tip of interimplant papilla and the most coronal portion of the interimplant crestal bone was measured (radiographic length of papilla [RL]). The horizontal distance (HD) between the two adjacent implants was measured at the ftxture-abutment interface level. Considering the possible effect of interimplant crestal bone resorption on closely implanted sites, HDs were divided into two categories: HD <3 and ≥3 mm. The Mann-Whitney test was performed to flnd the difference in the dimension of interimplant papilla. Results: In cases of HD<3 mm, RL did not differ statistically in both systems. Also, in cases of HD>3 mm, RL did not show a statistically signiflcant difference in both systems. Conclusion: Both systems had similar dimensions of interproximal soft tissue between adjacent implants, irrespective of the horizontal distance of the fixture.