Bone level changes at axial- and non-axial-positioned implants supporting fixed partial dentures. A 5-year retrospective longitudinal study

AIM: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the potential influence of implant inclination on marginal bone loss at freestanding, implant-supported, fixed partial dentures (FPDs) over a 5-year period of functional loading. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material comprised 38 periodontally treated, partially dentate patients with a total of 42 free-standing FPDs supported by implants of the Astra Tech System. Mesio-distal inclination of the implants in relation to a vertical axis perpendicular to the occlusal plane was measured with a protractor on standardized photographs of the master cast. The two tail quartiles of the distribution of the implants with regard to the implant inclination were defined as axial-positioned (mean 2.4 degrees; range 0-4 degrees) and non-axial-positioned implants (mean 17.1 degrees; range 11-30 degrees), respectively. For FPDs supported by two implants, both the mesial-distal and buccal-lingual inter-implant inclination was measured. The primary outcome variable was change in peri-implant bone level from the time of FPD placement to the 5-year follow-up examination. Comparison between axial- and non-axial-positioned implants was performed by the use of a Mann-Whitney U-test. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to analyze relationships between inter-implant inclination (mesial-distal and buccal-lingual) and 5-year bone level change on the FPD level. RESULTS: The 5-year mean bone level change amounted to 0.4 mm (SD 0.97) for the axial and 0.5 mm (0.95) for non-axial-positioned implants (P>0.05). For the FPDs supported by two implants, the mean inter-implant inclination was 9.2 degrees (1-36 degrees) in the mesial-distal direction and 6.7 degrees (0-24 degrees) in the buccal-lingual direction. Correlation analysis revealed lack of statistically significant correlation between inter-implant inclination (mesial-distal and buccal-lingual) and 5-year bone level change (r=-0.19 and r=-0.32, respectively). CONCLUSION: The study failed to support the hypothesis that implant inclination has an effect on peri-implant bone loss.