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Clinical and Histologic Findings for Microimplants Placed in One Stage and Loaded for Three Months: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Becker William,
Sennerby Lars,
Becker Burton E.,
Henry Patrick
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
clinical implant dentistry and related research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.338
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1708-8208
pISSN - 1523-0899
DOI - 10.1111/j.1708-8208.2002.tb00151.x
Subject(s) - osseointegration , implant , dentistry , medicine , orthodontics , surgery
Background : Implants are placed in either one or two stages. There is an absence of histologic human evidence relating to implant integration after loading. Purpose : The purpose of this case report was to present clinical and histologic findings for smooth‐surfaced titanium turned microimplants placed in one stage and loaded after healing. Materials and Methods : Five one‐piece microimplants were placed in a fully edentulous mandible. Three microimplants (tests) were placed in one stage and extended through the keratinized mucosa for 3 mm. Two additional microimplants (controls) were placed even with the mucosa. After 3 months of healing, three test implants were loaded for an additional 3 months. At this time, three loaded implants and one control were removed en bloc. Results : Histologic and histometric evaluations were made. For all specimens, there was excellent bone‐to‐implant contact. The loaded implants had from two to four exposed threads. Using marginal bone levels as the reference, the highest percentage of bone‐to‐implant contact was noted with the unloaded control implant (92.2%). One nonaxially loaded implant had 66.9% bone‐to‐implant contact, whereas the axially loaded implants (n = 2) had 77.8% bone‐to‐implant contact. Conclusions : Within the limits of this case report, smooth‐surfaced, titanium threaded microimplants placed in one stage and loaded for 3 months demonstrated excellent osseointegration, with varying bone‐to‐implant contact. The amount of bone‐to‐implant contact may be related to axial implant loading.