Clinical trials with a polycrystalline alumina dental implant.
The Tübingen polycrystalline alumina implant utilizes bony apposition as the method of stabilization. Its cylindrical configuration allows the implant site to be prepared by use of ultra-low-speed drills. This study focused on the use of the implant as a single-tooth, free-standing device. Thirty patients were selected. Devices were followed for five years. The implants were placed in one of two applications: immediate extraction site or healed edentulous ridge. A simple purse-string suture technique was used for closure. Periodic observations were recorded. Of the 30 planned implants, all have been completed to date. Twenty-five of the 30 have been considered successful. Twenty-three of the 25 successes were from the immediate extraction group. Only 2 of 5 were successful in the healed ridge group. Due to the structural requirements of the Tübingen implant, its size makes it usable only in wider-than-average edentulous ridges. The success rate was 83.3%, and for those devices placed in immediate extraction sites, a success rate of 92% was recorded.
Cranin
A N
AN
Department of Dental & Oral Surgery and Division of Oral Implantology, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11212.
Heimke
G
G
Gelbman
J
J
Simons
A
A
Klein
M
M
Sirakian
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014093:Tooth, Artificial; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015921:Dental Implants; D000537:Aluminum Oxide