Early loading of single crowns supported by 6‐mm‐long implants with a moderately rough surface: a prospective 2‐year follow‐up cohort study

Aim: To evaluate prospectively the clinical and radiographic outcomes after 2 years of loading of 6 mm long moderately rough implants supporting single crowns in the posterior regions. Material and methods: Forty SLActive Straumann^® short (6 mm) implants were placed in 35 consecutively treated patients. Nineteen implants, 4.1 mm in diameter, and 21 implants, 4.8 mm in diameter, were installed. Implants were loaded after 6 weeks of healing. Implant survival rate, marginal bone loss and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) were evaluated at different intervals. The clinical crown/implant ratio was also calculated. Results: Two out of 40 implants were lost before loading. Hence, the survival rate before loading was 95%. No further technical or biological complications were encountered during the 2‐year follow‐up. The mean marginal bone loss before loading was 0.34±0.38 mm. After loading, the mean marginal bone loss was 0.23±0.33 and 0.21±0.39 mm at the 1‐ and 2‐year follow‐ups. The RFA values increased between insertion (70.2±9) and the 6‐week evaluation (74.8±6.1). The clinical crown/implant ratio increased with time from 1.5 at the delivery of the prosthesis to 1.8 after 2 years of loading. Conclusion: Short implants (6 mm) with a moderately rough surface loaded early (after 6 weeks) during healing yielded high implant survival rates and moderate loss of bone after 2 years of loading. Longer observation periods are needed to draw more definite conclusions on the reliability of short implants supporting single crowns. To cite this article:
Rossi F, Ricci E, Marchetti C, Lang NP, Botticelli D. Early loading of single crowns supported by 6‐mm‐long implants with a moderately rough surface: a prospective 2‐year follow‐up cohort study.
Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21 , 2010; 937–943.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.01942.x     

Turned versus anodised dental implants: a meta‐analysis

The aim of this meta‐analysis was to test the null hypothesis of no difference in the implant failure rates, marginal bone loss (MBL)and post‐operative infection for patients being rehabilitated by turned versus anodised‐surface implants, against the alternative hypothesis of a difference. An electronic search without time or language restrictions was undertaken in November 2015. Eligibility criteria included clinical human studies, either randomised or not. Thirty‐eight publications were included. The results suggest a risk ratio of 2·82 (95% CI 1·95–4·06, P < 0·00001) for failure of turned implants, when compared to anodised‐surface implants. Sensitivity analyses showed similar results when only the studies inserting implants in maxillae or mandibles were pooled. There were no statistically significant effects of turned implants on the MBL (mean difference‐MD 0·02, 95%CI ?0·16–0·20; P = 0·82) in comparison to anodised implants. The results of a meta‐regression considering the follow‐up period as a covariate suggested an increase of the MD with the increase in the follow‐up time (MD increase 0·012 mm year^?1), however, without a statistical significance (P = 0·813). Due to lack of satisfactory information, meta‐analysis for the outcome ‘post‐operative infection’ was not performed. The results have to be interpreted with caution due to the presence of several confounding factors in the included studies.     

One‐piece zirconia oral implants for single‐tooth replacement: Three‐year results from a long‐term prospective cohort study

Aim

This 3‐year report of a prospective long‐term cohort investigation aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a one‐piece zirconia oral implant for single‐tooth replacement.

Materials and Methods

Sixty‐five patients received a 1‐stage implant surgery with immediate temporization. Standardized radiographs were taken at implant insertion, after 1 year, and after 3 years to monitor peri‐implant bone levels. A univariate analysis of the association of different baseline parameters on marginal bone loss from implant insertion to 36 months was performed. Soft‐tissue parameters were evaluated at prosthesis insertion, after 6 months, after 1 year, and at the 3‐year follow‐up.

Results

After 3 years, six posterior site implants were lost, giving a cumulative survival rate of 90.8%. The mean marginal bone loss was 1.45 mm; 35% of the implants lost at least 2 mm bone, and 22% more than 3 mm. The univariate analysis did not identify any parameter associated with marginal bone loss. Probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding index increased over 3 years, and plaque index decreased.

Conclusions

The low survival rate of the presented ceramic implant and especially the high frequency of advanced bone loss are noticeable but remain unexplained.     

Reinforcement of Single Implant‐Retained Mandibular Overdenture with a Cobalt‐Chromium Framework before Implant Surgery

Previous clinical research has shown promising results in oral rehabilitation of elderly adults by a single implant‐retained mandibular overdenture; however, the high incidence of fracture in the anterior region of these overdentures is a concern for clinicians. To minimize catastrophic overdenture fracture, we propose a technique to insert an individualized metal framework in single implant‐retained overdentures prior to implant surgery.     

Bone‐to‐Implant Contact Around Immediately Loaded Direct Laser Metal‐Forming Transitional Implants in Human Posterior Maxilla

Objective: Direct laser metal forming (DLMF) is a procedure in which a high‐power laser beam is directed onto a metal powder bed and programmed to fuse particles according to a computer‐aided design file, generating a thin metal layer. This histologic study evaluated the bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC%) around immediately loaded DLMF transitional implants retrieved after 2 months from posterior human maxillae. Methods: Twelve totally edentulous individuals (mean age, 66.14 ± 2.11 years) received DLMF transitional implants divided in twelve immediately loaded (IL) and twelve unloaded (UI) implants. These transitional implants were placed between conventional implants to support the interim complete maxillary denture during the healing period. After 8 weeks, the transitional implants and the surrounding tissue were removed and prepared for histomorphometric analysis. Results: Mature woven preexisting bone lined by newly formed bone in early stages of maturation were found around all retrieved implants. Histometric evaluation indicated that the mean BIC% was 45.20 ± 7.68% and 34.10 ± 7.85% for IL and UI, respectively (P <0.05). Conclusion: The present data obtained in humans showed that, although both IL and UI presented good BIC%, IL DLMF implants had a higher BIC% in the posterior maxilla.     

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation of eosinophilic granuloma with bone graft surgery and a modified implant‐supported hybrid prosthesis: A case report with a 6‐year follow‐up

Eosinophilic granuloma is the most common form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis and corresponds with bone lesions characterized by pain, rapid growth, and high tendency of recurrence after inadequate curettage. It is a rare disease that is difficult to diagnose clinically and radiographically because it mimics other odontogenic cysts and tumors. In this report, the reconstruction of an osseous defect with an iliac graft and a modified implant‐supported hybrid prosthesis after surgical excision of an eosinophilic granuloma in the mandible of a 27‐year‐old male patient was described. The patient was satisfied with the functional and esthetic results of the implant‐supported restoration and a 6‐year follow‐up showed no sign of recurrence.     

Impact of Platform Switching on Peri‐Implant Bone Remodeling around Short Implants in the Posterior Region, 1‐Year Results from a Split‐Mouth Clinical Trial

Aim: To assess the effect of platform switching on peri‐implant bone remodeling around short implants (8.5 mm) placed in the resorbed posterior mandibular and maxillary region of partially edentulous patients. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients with one or more missing teeth at both sides in the posterior region were, according to a split‐mouth design, randomly assigned to be treated with a platform‐matched (control) implant on the one side and a platform‐switched implant (test) on the other side. A total of 62 short implants (8.5 mm) with a dual‐acid etched surface with nanometer‐sized calcium phosphate particles was placed. Follow‐up visits were conducted one month and one year after placing the implant crown. Outcome measures were interproximal bone level changes, implant survival and clinical parameters. Results: One year after loading, peri‐implant bone remodeling around test implants (0.53 ± 0.54 mm) was significant less than around control implants (0.85 ± 0.65 mm; p = .003). With regard to implant survival and clinical parameters no significant differences were observed between test and control implants. Conclusions: This study suggested that peri‐implant bone remodeling is affected by platform switching. One year after loading, interproximal bone levels were better maintained at implants restored according to the platform switching concept.     

Six‐Year Survival of a Mini Dental Implant‐Retained Overdenture in a Child with Ectodermal Dysplasia

Patients with ectodermal dysplasia (ED) experience several problems caused by abnormal development and functioning of the head and neck region. In addition to developmental nasal cartilage abnormalities and absence of sweat glands, hair, and eyebrows, edentulism or developmental disorders of teeth (cone‐shaped teeth) are commonly observed in these types of patients. ED is also characterized by underdeveloped alveolar ridges, a decreased occlusal vertical dimension, reduced salivary secretion, and dry oral mucosa, which make prosthetic rehabilitation difficult. Few studies of intraosseous dental implant‐retained prostheses have described adverse effects on craniofacial growth and esthetic and functional disadvantages, while some researchers have described the advantages of this treatment option as an alternative option in these cases. Due to the associated alveolar bone deficiency, dental mini‐implant therapy may be a treatment option for these patients; however, there are isolated cases in the literature regarding the rehabilitation of ED patients with mini‐implant‐supported overdentures. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation of a 6‐year‐old child with ED using a maxillary removable partial prosthesis and a mini‐implant‐retained mandibular overdenture. The clinical and radiographic findings of this prosthetic rehabilitation during the 6‐year follow‐up are also presented.