Retrospective study of short rough surface implants

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reduced bone height is one of the major problems faced in restoring tooth loss with implants. By the use of short implants, it is possible to reduce complicated and invasive treatment such as bone graft, allowing more simple surgery. But short implants are generally considered to have lower success rates than that of standard implants.PURPOSE: To assess the results of short Straumann implants by a retrospective study of short Straumann implants with TPS(titanium plasma-sprayed) and SLA(sandblasted, large grit, acid etched) surfaces.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 173 implants in 106 patients who received short Straumann implant surgery(< or=8 mm) in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Kyunghee Dental Hospital, from February 1996 to October 2006 were selected and studied. All of the implants were followed up after prosthetic rehabilitation. The average follow-up period was 34 months with 119 months as the longest followup period. The average follow-up period after prosthetic rehabilitation was 31 months. 64 females(60.4%) and 42 males(39.6%) participated in the research with the age range of 19 to 85(mean age 47). 20 patients(18.9%) were under 40, 85 patients(80.2%) were over 40 and under 70, and only one patient(0.9%) was over 70 years old.RESULTS: 27 implants(15.6%) had TPS surface while 146 implants(84.4%) had SLA surface. 9 implants(5.2%) were 3.3, 108 implans(62.4%) were 4.1mm and 56 implants(32.4%) were 4.8mm in diameter. 167 implants(96.5%) were 8mm and 6 implants(3.5%) were 6mm in length. There were 24 implants(13.9%) on the maxillas and 149 implants(68.8%) on the mandibles. 119 implants(68.8%) were rehabilitated with FPD(fixed partial denture), 47 implants(27.2%) with single crowns and 4 implants(2.3%) with overdentures. Among the fixed partial dentures, 30 of them were splinted with short implants only. After over an year of follow-up period, 139 implants(96.5%) out of 144 implants showed marginal bone loss of less than 1mm. 3 out of 173 implants failed showing 98.27% survival rate.CONCLUSIONS: The use of short Straumann implants(< or=8mm) can be a simple and reliable treatment method in minimal residual bone height.