A 4 year human, randomized, radiographic study of scalloped versus non-scalloped cemented implants

Marginal bone loss (MBL) is a key factor in long-term implant success rate. Among the different factors that influence MBL, it is the different implant shoulder designs, such as scalloped or non-scalloped, which have been widely studied on screw retained but not on cemented retained implants. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the MBL around scalloped and non-scalloped cemented retained dental implants after 4 years of loading, in humans. A total of 15 patients were enrolled in the present study. A radiographic and clinical examination was performed after implant placement (T0) and after 4 years from it (T1). The results demonstrated a differential MBL (T1-T0) of 2.436 ± 1.103 mm and 1.923 ± 1.021 mm, respectively for test (scalloped) and control (non-scalloped) groups with a statistically significant difference between them. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of prosthetic complication and abutment decementation, whilst ceramic crowns chipping was shown in both groups. In conclusion, the use of a scalloped platform did not provide better results on the maintenance of MBL after 4 years follow-up. In this study, this probably was determined by multiple factors, among which was the subcrestal insertion of scalloped implants.