Advancement of Marginal Bone and Soft Tissue Aesthetics for Slope-Configured Implants

The aim of the study was to examine changes within the marginal bone and soft tissue aesthetics following placement of implants with a sloped shoulder configuration. Thirty patients with a single missing tooth who showed a palatal/lingual–buccal bone height discrepancy of 2.0–3.0 mm on CBCT were enrolled in the study. The thickness of buccal and palatal/lingual bone plates 1 and 3 mm apically from the platform; Pink Aesthetic Score and Papilla Index were evaluated. After the implant insertion the mean thickness of the buccal bone plate when measured 1 mm and 3 mm from the shoulder was 1.85 ± 0.68 mm and 1.99 ± 1.05 mm. Six months after the definitive crown delivery, the value of this parameter decreased by 0.32 ± 0.53 mm and 0.15 ± 1.05 mm, respectively. After the temporary crown delivery, the median Pink Aesthetic Score was 5, and it increased to 7.75 six months after the definitive crown delivery. Likewise, the Papilla Index median improved from 1 to 2. After the use of implants with a sloped shoulder configuration, a slight decrease in buccal bone plate thickness can be expected. However, the reduction in the thickness of this bone plate does not have a negative impact on soft tissues, as evidenced by the improvement in indices assessing aesthetics.