What tissue surrounds an implant instead of periodontal ligament fibers?

Correct answer: A. Biological width above the implant (junctional epithelium + sulcular epithelium, no PDL fibers)

• A. Correct. Around an implant, there is NO periodontal ligament. Instead, the peri-implant biological width consists of: sulcular epithelium (approximately 1.5 mm), junctional epithelium (approximately 1.5 mm), and a supracrestal connective tissue zone (approximately 1 mm). The soft tissue fibers run PARALLEL to the implant surface (circular and semicircular), NOT perpendicular as Sharpey's fibers do in natural teeth.
• B. Incorrect. Junctional epithelium is part of the peri-implant seal but the full biological structure also includes the sulcular epithelium and connective tissue zone.
• C. Incorrect. While circular fibers exist in the peri-implant soft tissue, they are NOT embedded in the implant surface (unlike Sharpey's fibers in cementum).
• D. Incorrect. Sharpey's fibers embed into natural tooth cementum — they do NOT insert into titanium implant surfaces.