Immediately loaded short implants: analysis of a case series of 133 implants.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a retrospective study on the success of immediately loaded short implants (ie, length < 10 mm).


METHODS
From January 1995 to October 2004, 133 short implants were inserted and immediately loaded. Multiple implant systems were used, with a mean follow-up of about 4 years. Only 3 of the 133 implants were lost (ie, a survival rate of 97.7%), and no statistically significant differences were found among the studied variables; no or reduced marginal bone loss was considered as an indicator of the success rate when evaluating the effects of several factors with the use of a general linear model.


RESULTS
By using the survival rate, no differences were detected among the studied variables. On the contrary, the analysis of the success rate by means of a general linear model showed that wider (diameter > 3.75 mm) and longer (length = 10 mm) implants were related to a lower delta insertion abutment junction (or marginal bone loss) and thus a better outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Immediately loaded short implants had a high survival rate and success rate similar to those reported in previous studies of 2-stage procedures. Immediate loading of short implants can be considered a reliable technique, although a higher marginal bone loss was to be expected when narrow (diameter < or = 3.75 mm) and shorter (length < 10 mm) implants were used.
Degidi
Marco
M
Dental School, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Piattelli
Adriano
A
Iezzi
Giovanna
G
Carinci
Francesco
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003825:Denture, Complete, Immediate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015921:Dental Implants