Transmucosal healing around peri-implant defects: Crestal and subcrestal implant placement in dogs

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the transmucosal healing response of implants placed with the junction of the smooth surfaces, either crestal or subcrestal, into simulated extraction defects after healing periods of 1 and 3 months. Materials and methods: A total of 23 Straumann SP ∅3.3 mm NN, SLA ® 10 mm implants were placed in the mandibular premolar regions of three greyhound dogs 3 months after the teeth were removed. Five control implants were placed at the crestal bone level, and test implants with surgically created peri-implant defects of 1.25 mm wide × 5 mm depth were placed either at the crestal (nine implants) or at the 2 mm subcrestal (nine implants) bone level. Imp..