Surgical phase
All surgeries were performed by two experienced and calibrated specialists in dental implantology (GP and IS). All patients followed the same surgical protocol under local anesthesia with articaine 4% and adrenalin (1:100.000). A mid-supracrestal incision was made including the adjacent teeth, and a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was raised. Implant sites were prepared following the manufacturer’s instructions. Sealed envelopes were opened. The implant insertion was the same for both the test and control groups. The 0.8 mm straight section of the machined rim in the control implants and the ultrathin threaded microsurface in the test implants were submerged at the level of the crestal bone. In the test group, the hyperbolic neck portion was not submerged (Fig. Convergent transmucosal neck implant placement surgery. Test group. (Prama, Sweden and Martina, Italy)