Short dental implants in posterior partial edentulism: a multicenter retrospective 6-year case series study.
BACKGROUND
Implants <10 mm long in the posterior regions of partial edentulous patients have a higher failure rate in many clinical reports. The purpose of this case series study was to evaluate implant survival when a biomechanical approach was used to decrease stress to the bone-implant interface.


METHODS
A retrospective evaluation of 273 consecutive posterior partially edentulous patients treated with 745 implants. 7 or 9 mm long, supporting 338 restorations over a 1- to 5-year period was reviewed from four private offices. Implant survival data were collected relative to stage I to stage II healing, stage II to prosthesis delivery, and prosthesis delivery to as long as 6 years follow-up. A biomechanical approach to decrease stress to the posterior implants included splinting implants together with no cantilever load, restoring the patient with a mutually protected or canine guidance occlusion, and selecting an implant designed to increase bone-implant contact surface area.


RESULTS
Of the 745 implants inserted, there were six surgical failures from stage I to stage II healing to prosthesis delivery. No implants failed after the 338 final implant prostheses were delivered. A 98.9% survival rate was obtained from stage I surgery to prosthetic follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-length implants may predictably be used to support fixed restorations in posterior partial edentulism. Methods to decrease biomechanical stress to the bone-implant interface appear appropriate for this treatment.
Misch
Carl E
CE
Department of Periodontology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. info@misch.com
Steignga
Jennifer
J
Barboza
Eliane
E
Misch-Dietsh
Francine
F
Cianciola
Lois J
LJ
Kazor
Christopher
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001641:Bicuspid; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013165:Splints; D013499:Surface Properties
D015921:Dental Implants