Biologic outcome of single-implant restorations as tooth replacements: a long-term follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
The replacement of a single tooth or several teeth by means of single-implant restorations is an increasingly used method that needs long-term validation.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate the outcome of single-implant restorations by means of fixed restorations and to define the prognosis through marginal bone level estimations.


METHODS
From November 1986 to June 1998, 270 Brånemark implants (215 in the upper jaw) were installed in 219 patients (106 males). Both anterior and posterior sites were involved. Of the 263 single restorations, 28 were placed in private dental offices. The patients were followed until June 1999.


RESULTS
Twelve implants failed before or at abutment connection or within 6 months afterward. Only four implants failed later. The cumulative success rates were 93% for the implants and 96.5% for the restorations over a period of 11 years. The marginal bone loss during the first 6 months after abutment connection reached 0.71 mm and then dropped to 0.036 mm annually over a period of 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Single-implant restorations (Brånemark System) are a reliable treatment with a good long-term prognosis. Failures were concentrated during the healing period and early loading phase.
Naert
I
I
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Ignace.Naert@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Koutsikakis
G
G
Duyck
J
J
Quirynen
M
M
Jacobs
R
R
van Steenberghe
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000145:classification; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing