A comparative study to evaluate the effect of two different abutment designs on soft tissue healing and stability of mucosal margins

Aim To evaluate the effect of two different abutment designs on soft tissue healing and the stability of the mucosal margin in vivo. Materials and methods Twenty-nine subjects received two, non-adjacent endosseous implants in the esthetic zone. Subsequently, conventional (control) and curved abutments (experimental) were placed in combination with a temporary restoration (left–right randomization). Plaster models of the healed sites were made to assess the stability of the soft tissues at baseline and after 6 weeks. To measure deseating force, a dontrix gauge was used while removing the abutments after 6 weeks. Results Although visually, differences in the transmucosal area were observed, the differences in marginal recession and in deseating force between abutments from the experimental and the control group never reached a statistically significant level. In general, some gain in soft tissue height was seen in both groups. Angled abutments elicited recession at all buccal sites (P = 0.003–0.02). Conclusion Abutments with a circumferential groove do not lead to a different response of the mucosal margin compared with a regular abutment, and are no more resistant upon removal than regular abutments after 6 weeks of function.