Long-Term Effects of Implant-Protected Occlusion on Tactile Sensibility and Interproximal Contact Loss in Posterior Single-Tooth Implants: A 1.5-Year Prospective Study

Diana Lopez, DMD, MS; Huilin Cao, DDS, MS, MMSc; Jason Lee, DDS, MMSc; Sang J. Lee, DMD, MMSc

Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

Dental implants are a widely used treatment for partial edentulism, with implant-protected occlusion commonly applied in clinical practice1. However, the evidence supporting these guidelines is limited, necessitating further research to evaluate the long-term biomechanical stability of such restorations.

 

One of the key distinctions between dental implants and natural teeth is the absence of a periodontal ligament (PDL) around implants2. Teeth supported by a PDL can move up to 100 micrometers in response to force vectors, occlusal wear, and other contributing factors3. Additionally, the surrounding alveolar bone may undergo remodeling. In contrast, osseointegrated dental implants, being ankylosed, exhibit limited movement of approximately 10 micrometers3. These factors can lead to the relative malposition of the implant. In addition, proprioceptors in the PDL can respond to finer stimuli and contribute tothe magnitude of the occlusal forces. PDL lossafter tooth extraction might undermine this control. Despite the potential for interproximal contact loss (ICL) between implants and adjacent natural teeth, there are limited reports in the literature documenting this phenomenon4.

 

This study aimed to monitor the long-term effects of implant-protected occlusion on tactile sensibility and interproximal contact loss over 1.5 years in patients with posterior single-implant supported restorations.