Early clinical experience with a new one-piece implant system in single tooth sites.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new 1-piece implant in single tooth sites.


METHODS
Early clinical results were evaluated through observation and collection of survival data for 45 1-piece Direct implants (Nobel Biocare, Yorba Linda, CA). Patients ranged in age from 19 to 54 years, of which 23 were women and 12 were men. Both anterior and posterior single tooth defects were treated, with the majority being in the maxillary anterior zone. Five of the 45 implants placed were in immediate extraction sites. Observation periods ranged from 2.5 to 32 months.


RESULTS
One implant failure was detected over the observation period. It occurred in a maxillary lateral incisor site, and was placed and immediately loaded after tooth extraction. The overall success rate was 97.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limited parameters of this study, it can be concluded that the 1-piece implant design can be used effectively as a basis for restoring single tooth defects. Longer observation periods, more detailed soft tissue analysis, and larger numbers of implants in varied arch sites will be required to establish definitive protocols for the use of this implant.
Parel
Stephen M
SM
Center for Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, 3302 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. sparel@bcd.tamhsc.edu
Schow
Sterling R
SR
D000328:Adult; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003794:Dental Restoration, Temporary / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing