A study of the esthetic outcomes of peri⁃implant soft tissue conditioning with provisional restorations and heal⁃ ing abutments

Abstract

Objective To compare the esthetic outcomes of peri ⁃implant soft tissue conditioning with provisional restorations and healing abutments. Methods A total of 48 patients missing a single tooth in the esthetic zone were chosen for the present study and divided into two groups. Twenty⁃six patients in Group A used provisional restorations to condition the peri⁃implant soft tissue before final restorations, while 22 patients in Group B used healing abutments to condition the soft tissue. All patients were evaluated by pink esthetic scores (PESs) at the time of the final restoration and at a 1⁃year follow⁃up. Results A total of 26 implants in Group A and 22 implants in Group B showed good peri⁃ implant soft tissue condition. PESs at the time of the final restoration and at the 1⁃year follow⁃up in Group A were 8.18 and 8.35, respectively, and 6.73 and 8.18 in Group B, respectively. PESs at the time of final restoration and at the 1⁃ year follow⁃up were not significantly different in Group A but were significantly different in Group B. The PESs of the two groups were significantly different at the final restoration but were not significantly different at the 1⁃year follow⁃up. Conclusions Provisional restoration in the esthetic zone can improve the pink esthetic effect when permanent restora⁃ tion.

Keywords

• Implant restoration
• Provisional restoration
• Healing abutment
• Esthetic zone
• Esthetic outcomes