title: Failed dental implants - clinical, radiological and bacteriological findings in 17 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons for implant failure in two Oral and Maxillofacial Units in Helsinki. Seventeen patients, who lost 30 implants were included in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients and implants were studied clinically, radiologically and microbiologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients did not have any symptom indicating failure; hence, the failures were noticed mainly by the clinicians when instability of the fixture or of the prosthetic reconstruction became obvious. Radiolucency around the fixture was the most frequent radiological finding. Twenty per cent of the fixtures were located in insufficient bone. Ninety seven per cent of the bacterial cultures were positive, Streptococcus milleri being the most commonly identified aerobic and Fusobacterium nucleatum the most commonly anaerobic bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most critical time for success is immediately after prosthetic loading. Hence, implants should be placed in the optimal position to facilitate prosthetic reconstruction and loading.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. Pekka.Laine@hus.fi
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Antero
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kontio
authors.forename: Seija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ylijoki
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suuronen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003757:Dental Implantation; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants