A systematic review of single-tooth restorations supported by implants.
OBJECTIVE
To make an inventory of clinical studies on single-tooth restorations supported by implants using a systematic review procedure and to aggregate overall survival results.


METHODS
Papers referring to single-tooth implants were located by a MEDLINE search 1990 to April 1998. Three hundred and twenty references were found, and they were subjected to a systematic review procedure.


METHODS
A three-step inclusion/exclusion procedure was applied to identify papers that represented: good scientific practice (GSP), reported results of all patients, implants and crowns for more than 2years, and had sufficient data to generate life-table analyses. The outcomes were 'implant failure' and 'crown completion'. Nine studies survived. These data showed an overall mean GSP of 0.37 with a predicted 4year implant survival of 97% (n=459), and an uncomplicated crown maintenance of 83% (n=240).


CONCLUSIONS
Single-tooth implants show an acceptable short-term survival of 4years, but crown complications are common.
Creugers
N H
NH
Department of Occlusal Reconstruction and Oral Function, College of Dental Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands. n.creugers@dent.kun.nl
Kreulen
C M
CM
Snoek
P A
PA
de Kanter
R J
RJ
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D018865:Dental Research / Q000592:standards*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007598:Journalism, Dental / Q000592:standards*; D016239:MEDLINE; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis