Apico-coronal Position of Tissue-level Implants Bone Stability

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients were partially edentulous and required placement of at least one single delayed implant in pristine bone in the posterior mandible * presence of keratinized mucosa with a minimum bucco-lingual width of 3 mm; * bone crest with at least 6mm of width and 9 mm of height above the mandibular canal without concomitant or previous bone augmentation procedures; * presence of the opposing dentition Exclusion Criteria: * smokers * uncontrolled periodontitis * medication consumption for at least 3 months prior to treatment * history of head or neck radiation therapy * pregnancy or lactating at any time during the study