Impact of Implant Abutment Dis-/Reconnection on Peri-Implant Marginal Bone Loss - Randomized Clinical Trial.

The proposed study is a randomized clinical trial in which the participants will be allocated into one of the two arms according to the proposed intervention: experimental group, in which the abutments will be permanently connected immediately at the implant placement procedure; and control group (active comparator) with conventional treatment, where the abutments will be disconnected and reconnected three times.

Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria related to oral and systemic health, a sample of participants will be selected among those partially edentulous patients who seek for dental implants treatment at the Fortaleza University School of Dentistry.

The sample size has been calculated based on the standard deviation of 0.17 mm, significance level of 5% and 80% statistical test power. To detect a clinically significant difference of 0.2 mm, each group should be composed of 11 participants. Therefore, considering a 10% margin for possible dropouts or missing data, the study will include 24 participants divided into two groups. Each participant will receive one or two implants according to his/her needs, so the study may include more than 24 implants.

A single surgeon will perform the implant surgical procedure in order to reduce variations inherent to clinical experience. After local anesthesia and incision on the top of the alveolar ridge, the bone will be exposed by the mucoperiosteal flap elevation. The mucosal thickness will be measured at implant sites, before the lingual/palatal flap elevation, with a periodontal probe.

The drilling sequence will be done according to manufacturer's recommendations, under saline solution irrigation, intermittent movements and speed up to 1200rpm.