Short (8-mm) dental implants in the rehabilitation of partial and complete edentulism: a 3- to 14-year longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of different implant sizes (8- and 10-mm lengths with 3.75-, 4.1-, and 4.8-mm diameters) in diverse host bone sites in a selected sample of partially and completely edentulous patients.


METHODS
Over a 14-year period, 129 patients (68 women and 61 men) were consecutively treated with a fixed prosthesis (single or multiunit, screw or cement retained) supported by 265 different-sized implants (154 standard 10-mm; 111 shorter 8-mm). Two types of implants were used (141 titanium plasma-sprayed and 124 Sand-blasted, large-grit, acid-etched).


RESULTS
Dropouts were recorded for 23 patients with 23 prostheses supported by 42 implants. In the remaining 106 patients (223 implants), 8 implants failed (4 standard and 4 shorter), in type 3 or 4 bone. Mean marginal bone loss and gingival crevice probing depth associated with either implant length were statistically comparable (P> .05). The 14-year cumulative survival rates for all short and standard implants were 97.9% and 97.1%, respectively. Survival rates were 92.3% and 95.9% for titanium plasma-sprayed short and standard implants, respectively, and 100% and 98.5% for the Sand-blasted, large-grit, acid-etched short and standard implants, respectively. Six of the 8 lost implants required implant replacement after the host sites' healing period. The remaining 2 lost implants were managed by converting the distal unit of the fixed partial prosthesis to a cantilever.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of the study design and observation period, a mix of implant sizes did not appear to compromise the effectiveness of implant therapy in this particular population group.
Romeo
Eugenio
E
Department of Prosthodontics, Dental Clinic, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Italy. eugenio.romeo@unimi.it
Ghisolfi
Marco
M
Rozza
Roberto
R
Chiapasco
Matteo
M
Lops
Diego
D
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000209:etiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D014025:Titanium