Immediate small-diameter implants as abutments for an overdenture in the edentulous atrophic mandible: report of immersion endoscopic bone in vivo, and histologic bone-implant evaluation after 6 months of function / Implantes de pequeño diámetro como soporte inmediato de sobredentaduras en hueso alveolar mandibular atrófico: reporte de endoscopía de inmersion in vivo y evaluación histológica a los 6 meses de función

The aim of this report was to endoscopically evaluate bone quality in vivo in the immediate installation of temporary small-diameter implants, and again after 6 months of function, through an attachments system for overdenture, in the atrophic mandible of a patient. We also histologically evaluated bone-implant interaction in these temporary small-diameter implants, once the success of the osseointegration of the submerged implants was guaranteed. A patient received a total of 6 implants in the atrophic mandible, two of which were immediately loaded with a provisional prosthesis, and four were left to heal in a submerged way. Further, an immersion endoscopic evaluation was performed during bone drilling, and this showed a compact bone structure with limited vascularization and predominantly cortical structure.This immediate loading protocol involving an overdenture retained by two small-diameter implants of 2.9 mm in the atrophic mandible proved to be successful after 6 months of loading. Clinical and histologic osseointegration was consistently achieved for both of the retrieved immediately loaded implants. This modality allows the patient to be restored with a stable, functional, and aesthetic prosthesis during the osseointegration period of submerged implants and soft-tissue healing, before the removal of the provisional implants. The histological evaluation of bone-implant contact found that the space between the implant threads closer to the surface was filled with woven bone and lamellar bone, but the tissue in contact with the cervical portion of the implants was compatible with cortical bone organization. Also, the newly formed bone has a regular cell distribution and characteristics of advanced maturation after 6 months of function in the atrophic mandible. Anchored overdentures in 2 to 4 small-diameter implants (2.9 mm) for edentulous patients with severe atrophy of the mandible with cortical bone would be a minimally invasive alternative.

Uso de implantes de diâmetro reduzido nos casos de agenesia dentária na região estética / The use of small diameter dental implants for tooth agenesis in the esthetic region – a case report

Os implantes de diâmetro reduzido são definidos como os que possuem diâmetro menor do que 3,75 mm. Esse tipo de implante tem indicação restrita para os casos de rebordo alveolar atrófico, espaço protético mesiodistal menor do que 7 mm e substituição de dentes com pequenos diâmetros cervicais, com o intuito de oferecer um tratamento menos invasivo e que garanta a satisfação ao paciente. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi relatar um caso clínico com ênfase na exposição e na discussão da viabilidade da reabilitação de área estética com restrição nos espaços interdentais utilizando implantes de diâmetro reduzido. Um paciente do sexo masculino compareceu à clínica com queixa de ausências dos elementos 12 e 22 em virtude de agenesias dentárias. Após planejamento reverso, definiu-se a reabilitação implantossuportada com instalação de implantes de diâmetro reduzido nas regiões edêntulas. Um ano após a reabilitação, não foram evidenciadas sintomatologias dolorosas, infecciosas, instabilidade dos implantes e processos de reabsorção óssea. Com base neste caso clínico, foi possível sugerir que os implantes de diâmetro reduzido são uma opção segura e previsível para a reabilitação de regiões com limitações nos espaços interdentais e cristas alveolares delgadas

Small diameter implants are defined as those with a diameter less than 3.75 mm. This type of implant is indicated for atrophic alveolar ridges, a mesio-distal space < 7 mm and to substitute tooth with small cervical diameters, providing a less invasive treatment and better patient satisfaction. The aim of this article was to report a clinical case discussing rehabilitation of esthetic regions with small diameter implants. A male patient presented at the clinics with the lack of teeth 12 and 22 due to dental agenesis. After the reverse planning, an implant-supported restoration was defi ned at those regions. One year later, no evidence of painful symptoms, infection, implant instability, and bone resorption was seen. Considering this clinical case, it is possible to suggest that small diameter dental implants are a safe and predictable option for restricted interdental spaces and thin alveolar bone crests.

Clinical outcome of narrow diameter implants inserted into allografts

OBJECTIVE: Narrow diameter implants (NDI) (i.e. diameter <3.75 mm) are a potential solution for specific clinical situations, such as reduced interradicular bone, thin alveolar crest and replacement of teeth with small cervical diameter. NDI have been available in clinical practice since the 1990s, but only few studies have analyzed their clinical outcome and no study have investigated NDI inserted in fresh-frozen bone (FFB) grafts. Thus, a retrospective study on a series of NDI placed in homologue FFB was designed to evaluate their clinical outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period between December 2003 and December 2006, 36 patients (22 females and 14 males, mean age 53 years) with FFB grafts were selected and 94 different NDI were inserted. The mean follow-up was 25 months. To evaluate the effect of several host-, surgery-, and implant-related factors, marginal bone loss (MBL) was considered an indicator of success rate (SCR). The Kaplan Meier algorithm and Cox regression were used. RESULTS: Only 5 out of 94 implants were lost (i.e. survival rate - SVR 95.7 percent) and no differences were detected among the studied variables. On the contrary, the Cox regression showed that the graft site (i.e. maxilla) reduced MBL. CONCLUSIONS: NDI inserted in FFB have a high SVR and SCR similar to those reported in previous studies on regular and NDI inserted in non-grafted jaws. Homologue FFB is a valuable material in the insertion of NDI.