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Objectives: To investigate the relation between occlusal loading and peri-implant clinical parameters (probing
depth, bleeding on probing, gingival retraction, width of keratinized mucosa, and crevicular fluid volume) in pa
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tients with implant-supported complete fixed prostheses in both arches.
Material and Methods: This clinical study took place at the University of Valencia (Spain) dental clinic. It included
patients attending the clinic for regular check-ups during at least 12 months after rehabilitation of both arches with
implant-supported complete fixed ceramo-metallic prostheses. One study implant and one control implant were
established for each patient using the T-Scan®III computerized system (Tesco, South Boston, USA). The maxil
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lary implant closest to the point of maximum occlusal loading was taken as the study implant and the farthest
(with least loading) as the control. Occlusal forces were registered with the T-Scan® III and then occlusal adjust
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ment was performed to distribute occlusal forces correctly. Peri-implant clinical parameters were analyzed in both
implants before and two and twelve months after occlusal adjustment.
Results: Before occlusal adjustment, study group implants presented a higher mean volume of crevicular fluid
(51.3±7.4 UP) than the control group (25.8±5.5 UP), with statistically significant difference. Two months after
occlusal adjustment, there were no significant differences between groups (24.6±3.8 UP and 26±4.5 UP respec
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tively) (
p
=0.977). After twelve months, no significant differences were found between groups (24.4±11.1 UP and
22.5±8.9 UP respectively) (
p
=0.323). For the other clinical parameters, no significant differences were identified
between study and control implants at any of the study times (
p
>0.05).
Conclusions: Study group implants receiving higher occlusal loading presented significantly higher volumes of
crevicular fluid than control implants. Crevicular fluid volumes were similar in both groups two and twelve months
after occlusal adjustment.
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