Tilted implants applied to immediate load on edentulous jaw: 6 years follow‐up

Abstract

Background: Tilted implants favor the rehabilitation of implant-supported prostheses in patients with atrophic jaws. This technique has positive aspects for both the professional and the patient as it simplifies treatment, minimizes the surgical procedure, allows the placement of more implants, improves bone anchorage, reduces treatment time, and reduces costs. Aim/Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate, clinically and radiographically, inclined implants used in the rehabilitation of fully edentulous jaws submitted to immediate loading with a six-year time interval. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 5 patients who underwent implant placement and rehabilitation with a protocol-type prosthesis. In the immediate preoperative period (T0), 6 months postoperative (T6) and 72 months postoperative (T72), the stability of the inclined distal and anterior axial implants were assessed using Smat Peg, bone loss around the implant with digital radiographs in the software Sidexis XG version 2.5 and clinical evaluation of the peri-implant mucosa through probes with periodontal probe, on the mesial, distal, vestibular and palatal surfaces of the implants and data were submitted to statistical evaluation (P < 0.05). Results: There was no significant difference for stability between times T0, T6 and T72. The radiographic analysis showed that the marginal bone loss on the mesial face was lower in the inclined implants (T72 = 0.51), when compared to the axial T72 = 0.57), and the reverse occurred for the distal face where the bone loss was higher for inclined implants (0.75) when compared to axial implants (0.38). The surveys showed peri-implant health for both inclined and axial implants. Conclusions and Clinical Implications: We conclude that the implants inclined under immediate load showed good stability and preservation of peri-implant tissues in the studied period, suggesting that this type of treatment is a good alternative for rehabilitation of the jaws with large bone resorption. Keywords: Dental Implants, Edentulous jaw, Marginal Bone Loss, Tilted Implants