Single-crystal sapphire endosseous dental implant loaded with functional stress-clinical and histological evaluation of peri-implant tissues

Summary Peri‐implant tissues of the single‐crystal sapphire implant connected with neighbouring teeth by a metal bridge‐work were examined clinically, radiographically, and histologically in ten monkeys. Professional tooth cleaning was performed during the study. At 3–12 months after insertion, most of the implants were firmly connected to the surrounding tissues and peri‐implant gingiva was regarded as healthy, based on various periodontal parameter scores. Destructive changes of the peri‐implant bone were not found radiographically. Histologically peri‐implant gingiva was revealed to show similar structure to that of the gingiva around natural teeth. Direct bone‐implant interface was observed at 3 months after insertion, while a thin loose fibrous connective tissue layer was present between bone and implant at 6 and 12 months. Such different interrelationship between bone and implant might be attributable to the difference in distribution of functional stress.