Volumetric variation of peri-implant soft tissues in convergent collar implants and crowns using the biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT)

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the changes in the peri-implant soft tissues of convergent collar implants with biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT) crowns, 10 months after loading. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pilot study was carried out from January 2016 to October 2017 involving 14 patients with one or two implants in the posterior mandibular sector. A total of 32 convergent collar implants were placed using a non-submerged protocol. Three months later the provisional cemented crowns were fitted using the BOPT approach with the finish line 1-1.5 mm below the gingival margin, simulating coronal emergence of a natural tooth. The soft tissue changes were measured with an intraoral scanner at two different timepoints: a) on the day of provisionalization, before prosthetic loading; and b) 10 months later without the provisional prosthesis. The STL files were superimposed and the soft tissue changes were recorded using a color scale with measurement of the volumetric changes in mm3. RESULTS: A mean increase in peri-implant mucosal volume of 64.7 mm3 was observed in 29 implants. The zones with the greatest increase in soft tissue volume were the papillae of implants with adjacent teeth and the peri-implant buccal margin. Three implants showed a mean decrease in soft tissue volume of -25.1 mm3. CONCLUSIONS: The fitting and design of crowns using the biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT) over convergent collar implants affords a significant increase in peri-implant soft tissue volume both at the level of the papillae and in the buccal margin. Key words:Dental implants, one-piece dental implants, convergent collar implants, soft tissue volume, peri-implant mucosa, BOPT, vertical preparation, shoulderless abutments, emergence profile, intraoral scanner, profilometric analysis.