Abstract
There is a paucity of studies that assess short and narrow dental implants. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the performance of both short (≤8 mm) and narrow (≤3.5 mm width) dental implants supporting fixed prostheses in the atrophic maxilla or mandible. Towards that aim, patients with short implants were included in the study. The control group was those with long and narrow dental implants (length > 8 mm and diameter ≤ 3.5 mm). Clinical and demographic variables were extracted from clinical records. During the follow-up, implant survival and marginal bone loss were evaluated and statistically analysed. Forty-one implants were included (18 and 23 implants in the test and control groups, respectively). The median follow-up time was 26 months since insertion in both groups. The results revealed that there was no implant failure and no statistically significant differences in terms of marginal bone loss. Only one screw-loosening effect occurred in the short implants group. Short, narrow dental implants could be an alternative for the restoration of severely resorbed jaws.
Highlights
The specific aims of this study were the comparative descriptions of dental implant survival, marginal bone loss, and technical complications
The study protocol for short dental implants was approved by the ethical committee of the University Hospital of Araba on 22 September 2017 (FIBEA-03-EP/17/implantes cortos), where 198 short implants were recruited
This study has shown that the performance of short (≤8 mm) and narrow (≤3.5 mm)
Summary
The art and science of dentistry has been evolving around the concept of keeping oral tissues healthy This had has a positive effect, demonstrated by the decrease between. 1990 and 2010 in the incidence and prevalence of severe tooth loss globally, regionally, and at the country level [1]. The prevalence of tooth loss increases with age and incidence shows a peak at 65 years. The resorption of alveolar bone as a consequence of teeth loss is characterized by being progressive, cumulative, and irreversible [2]. Edentulism creates a situation of hypofunction and decreases bone mineralization and alters blood supply [4–7]. These changes, together with the increased frequency in overaged bone, negatively affect the stability of the alveolar bone [7,8]. Teeth loss is an independent risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea [9]
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