Clinical Effects of Angulated Single‐Implant Crowns With Different Retention Methods in the Aesthetic Area: A Retrospective Cohort Study With 12–24 Months Follow‐Up

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of angulated single-implant crowns using the hybrid retention versus pure screw-retained restorations in the aesthetic area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study design was adopted. Patients were included and divided into two groups according to the abutment types they had used: the hybrid retention (AS) and screw-retained retention (ASC). Implant survival rate, mechanical complications, bleeding on probing proportion, probing depth, plaque index, Jemt papillary index, marginal displacement, pink/white esthetic score (PES/WES), emergence angle, marginal bone loss (MBL), and buccal bone thickness (BBT) resorption were evaluated. RESULTS: 43 patients were included (AS: 22, ASC: 21). The average follow-up was 16.88 months. No cases of implant failure were observed. Mechanical complications were observed in 31.82% of the AS group and 9.52% of the ASC group (p > 0.05). The MBL showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The BBT resorption was significantly higher in the ASC group than the AS group (p < 0.05). The PES was statistically higher in the AS group than the ASC group (p < 0.01). No other significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Both AS and ASC abutments achieved acceptable clinical short-term outcomes for maxillary anterior implant restorations, with 100% observed implant survival rates and no statistically significant differences in survival or peri-implant bone level stability. The AS group exhibited potential advantages in soft-tissue contour and buccal bone thickness preservation. Although the incidence of mechanical complications was higher in the AS group clinically, the difference did not reach statistical significance, warranting further validation.