SHORT IMPLANTS- AN EVOLVING TREND- A REVIEW

Short implants have been proposed as one of the positive treatment options for compromised edentulous regions. Decreased bone height, poor bone quality often limit the use of conventional implants and usually necessitate complex surgical procedures like sinus lift or bone augmentations which are associated with increased morbidity, treatment time and cost. Though the crown root ratio of short implants is controversial, they have demonstrated a high success rate with innovations that have bolstered its effectiveness through the modifications in micro and macro surface topography, surgical bone drilling protocols and implant diameter. Photo functionalization of implants and customized implants using 3D printing are some of the promising developments in short implants. KEYWORDS: Short Implants, Implant surface topography, Bone grafting, Photo functionalization, Customized Implants