Comparison of Periodontal Health and Marginal Bone Loss in Mandibular First Molar Single-Crown Dental Implants Placed in Different Positions.

The aim of the present study is to compare the periodontal health and marginal bone loss (MBL) between single-crown dental implants placed interdentally and mesial to the edentulous space. Patients treated with single-crown dental implants between 01/04/2014 and 01/04/2021 were included in the study. The included patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of single implant crowns inserted interdentally with a distal neighboring mandibular second molar and Group 2 consisted of single molar implant crowns inserted distally to the second premolar tooth without a neighboring second molar. The measurements for probing pocket depth, gingival index, and plaque index were made in both groups at the 60-month control session to evaluate periodontal health of the single-crown dental implants. The marginal bone levels of distal and mesial aspects of all implants were measured at the 60-month control session on panoramic radiographs. Forty-six and sixty-one patients were included in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was a significantly higher distal MBL in Group 2 compared with Group 1 (P < 0.05). Mesial MBL was higher in Group 1, however, this difference was not significant. The periodontal parameters of probing pocket depth, gingival index, and PI were all significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 at the 60-month control evaluation (P < 0.05). Single-crown dental implants placed interdentally may show decreased distal MBL and periodontal health compared with single-crown dental implants placed mesial to the edentulous space.