In the publication of Thoma et al. (2018), it was mentioned that there was 2% peri‐implantitis in the 6‐mm group and 0% in the longer‐implant group. Guljé et al. (2019) observed no peri‐implantitis in either groups. These numbers are low and very much alike the present study, although it should be noted that these studies used a slightly different definition of peri‐implantitis. In both groups, technical complications occurred during the 5‐year follow‐up period (Table 4). The most common complication in both groups was loosening of bridge screws connecting the prosthesis to the abutments. In the 11‐mm group the loosening occurred twice as often. No explanation could be found for this finding since there is no difference in absolute crown height and length of screws between the groups. Replacement of fractured abutments and the handling of complications related to the definitive restorations could all be easily managed chair side.

Ten patients (three in the 6‐mm group and seven in the 11‐mm group) of the initial 95 patients were lost to follow‐up at the 5‐year evaluation. At the 1‐year evaluation marginal bone level change was −0.06 mm and −0.02 mm for respectively the 6‐mm group and the 11‐mm group, without a significant difference (p = .48). At the 5‐year evaluation marginal bone level change was + 0.01 mm and −0.12 mm for respectively the 6‐mm group and the 11‐mm group, without a significant difference (p = .77). With such minimum bone changes between 1 and 5 years (in both groups) there is no reason to believe that “lost to follow‐up patients” could have influenced mean marginal bone level change in a clinically relevant matter.