Comparative evaluation of the bone remodeling of implant with convergent neck walls positioned at the crestal and subcrestal levels

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone remodeling of implant with convergent neck walls positioned at the crestal and subcrestal levels. The remodeling of the bone and soft tissue is influenced by the surgical and restorative techniques and by the materials used. METHODS: The study analyzed 128 patients with 262 implants, comparing subcrestal (Site A) and crestal (Site B) placements. Radiographic evaluations at T0 and T1 (12 months) were used to collect standardized clinical data on oral conditions and implant stability. RESULTS: The success rate with implant osseointegration at 12 months was 100% in both groups. The discrepancy between the two bone remodeling averages, 12 months apart, in implants positioned at level A and implants positioned at level B, is minimal. The average between the mesial and distal bone remodeling for implants positioned at level A is -0.854 mm T1-T0 mesial and -0.512 mm distal and for implants positioned at level B is -0.45 mm T1-T0 mesial and -0.69 mm T1-T0 distal. CONCLUSIONS: The search for possible radiographic differences between the crestal and subcrestal positioning of the convergent neck implants, concludes by observing the lack of a statistically significant result but with important insights into the positioning method at level B. The average bone loss is favorable for crestal positioning (-0.57 mm) compared to subcrestal (-0.683 mm).