THE USE OF ULTRA-SHORT DENTAL IMPLANTS IN ATROPHIC POSTERIOR RIDGES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Reduced alveolar bone in posterior arches is often a complication for regular dental implant placement, which leads to alonger, more complicated and unpredictable bone grafting procedures or nerve repositioning surgeries.OBJECTIVES: : In this clinical case series, placing 4-mm long Global D implants supporting a fixed dental prosthesis in atrophic resorbedposterior, arches were evaluated for 6 months.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In nineteen dental arches, 43 dental implants were placed and a screw retained Fixed dental prostheseswere attached to two or three dental implants. All implants were placed in adequate amount of bone. No bone grafting procedures wereimplemented. A minimum torque of 25 Ncm was used to place the dental implants.RESULTS Forty-three dental implants were inserted. Three dental implants failed before loading. 17 Fixed dental prostheses were delivered.One patient didn’t show up for follow up and dropped out of the study. Forty-one implants were eligible for examination and follow up. At 6month-post–insertion, the survival rate reached 92.7%. No patients suffered from any complications or side effects after implant surgeries. Themean change in the marginal bone loss around implant was found to be 0.22 mm with SD of 0.43 mm p<0.01.CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that 4 mm trans-mucosal dental implants with roughed sand blasted large grit acid etched surfaces canbe safely used to support fixed partial prosthesis in atrophic posterior ridges. Further and longer follow up is needed for these types of implants.KEYWORDS: bone loss, crown-implant ratio, jaw bone atrophy, short implants.