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Short Dental Implants in Posterior Partial Edentulism: A Multicenter Retrospective 6‐Year Case Series Study
Author(s) -
Misch Carl E.,
Steigenga Jennifer,
Barboza Eliane,
MischDietsh Francine,
Cianciola Louis J.,
Kazor Christopher
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.2006.050402
Subject(s) - edentulism , medicine , implant , dentistry , prosthesis , dental prosthesis , survival rate , retrospective cohort study , stage (stratigraphy) , orthodontics , surgery , paleontology , biology
Background: Implants <10 mm long in the posterior regions of partially edentulous patients have a higher failure rate in many clinical reports. The purpose of this case series study was to evaluate implant survival when a biomechanical approach was used to decrease stress to the bone‐implant interface. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 273 consecutive posterior partially edentulous patients treated with 745 implants, 7 or 9 mm long, supporting 338 restorations over a 1‐ to 5‐year period was reviewed from four private offices. Implant survival data were collected relative to stage I to stage II healing, stage II to prosthesis delivery, and prosthesis delivery to as long as 6 years follow‐up. A biomechanical approach to decrease stress to the posterior implants included splinting implants together with no cantilever load, restoring the patient with a mutually protected or canine guidance occlusion, and selecting an implant designed to increase bone‐implant contact surface area. Results: Of the 745 implants inserted, there were six surgical failures from stage I to stage II healing. All five failures were with a one‐stage surgical approach (240 implants). There were two failures from stage II healing to prosthesis delivery. No implants failed after the 338 final implant prostheses were delivered. A 98.9% survival rate was obtained from stage I surgery to prosthetic follow‐up. Conclusions: Short‐length implants may predictably be used to support fixed restorations in the posterior partial edentulism. Methods to decrease biomechanical stress to the bone‐implant interface appear appropriate for this treatment.