[Clinical effect of implant healing between submerged and non-submerged dental implants: a randomized controlled study].

PURPOSE: To observe the clinical effect of implant healing between submerged and non-submerged dental implant in posterior lower jaw. METHODS: Totally 40 cases (95 implants, Nobel Replace System) were randomly divided into Group A (submerged healing) and Group B (non-submerged healing). The peri-implant bone level, soft tissue inflammation, implant plaque aggregation, and implant retention were evaluated one year after implant loading. The change of bone level was calculated by independent t test while the others were calculated by independent non-parameter test using SPSS16.0 software package. RESULTS: The implant retention rate was 100% in both groups; the peri-implant bone levels in group A and group B were (0.16±0.46mm) and (0.04±0.35mm), respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups in implant bone level, peri-implant tissue inflammation and implant plaque aggregation. CONCLUSIONS: Replace non-submerged implant healing merits good implant healing of soft and hard tissue and bone integration, with good clinical efficacy; non-submerged implant healing can be used as an alternative to submerged implant healing.