Influência do intermediário protético sobre a estética e a satisfação de pacientes reabilitados com próteses unitárias provisórias sobre implantes: um ensaio clínico

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of prosthetic abutment and tissue conditioning on the esthetics of single implants’ temporary crowns. Materials and Methods: Thirty implants were allocated sequentially: fifteen implants were provisionally rehabilitated with a titanium prefabricated prosthetic abutment (GT) and 15 with a provisional preparable prosthetic abutment (GP). In both groups, tissue conditioning (TC) was performed by the non-surgical gradual pressure technique and peri-implant aesthetics were assessed before and after this process, using the Pink Esthetic Score (PES). PES was also applied on homologous tooth. Aesthetic satisfaction was assessed using the visual analog scale (EVA) after the conditioning process. Clinical data on the gingival mucosa were also collected. Results: 22 patients (24 implants) completed this study, 14 implants from GT and 10 from GP. Peri-implant aesthetics before and after TC, as well as patient satisfaction was similar between groups, p> 0.05. Significant differences were found for PES values before and after TC, and for comparison with the homologous tooth in both groups, p <0.05. The TC process seems not be influenced by the implantation time, loading time and peri-implant biotype, p> 0.05. Conclusion: The prosthetic abutment seems not influence neither the TC process nor patient satisfaction. The TC step is able to improve the peri-implant aesthetic results, however, the gingival aesthetics of the natural teeth is still significantly greater.