Soft and hard tissue changes around laser microtexture single tooth implants-A clinical and radiographic evaluation

Purpose: To investigate the periodontal parameters that affect the soft and hard tissues around Laser microtextured single tooth implants at 18 months after loading. Methods: Twenty Laser Lok implants were placed in 20 single missing tooth sites using a 2-stage protocol. Clinical Parameters included Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), and Crestal Bone Loss (CBL). Clinical and radiographic evaluation was done at loading, 12 months and 18 months after loading. The data collected were analyzed statistically. Results: The PI and GI during the entire follow-up period were well controlled. Eighty-six percent of implant sites were free of BOP at loading and 87% of sites were free of BOP at 18 months. A significant increase in PPD was not observed. The mean CBL was 0.59 mm at the time of loading, 0.80 mm at 12 months, and 1.06 mm at 18 months. Conclusion: The Laser Lok implants showed minimal CBL at 18 months than the commonly accepted 1.5 to 2.0 mm. The periimplant soft tissue stability was maintained throughout the study.