title: Endosseous dental implant fractures: an analysis of 21 cases.
abstract: Implant fracture is an infrequent cause of implant failure. The present study evaluates 21 fractured implants, with an analysis of patient age and sex, the type, length and diameter of the implant, positioning in the dental arch, the type of prosthetic rehabilitation involved, the number of abutments and pontics, the presence or absence of distal extensions or cantilevers, and loading time to fracture. Implant fracture was more common in males than in females (15:4), and the mean patient age was 56.9 years. Most cases (n = 19) corresponded to implant-supported fixed prostheses - 16 with cantilevers of different lengths - while only two fractured implants were supporting overdentures instead of fixed prostheses. The great majority of fractured implants (80.9%) were located in the molar and premolar regions, and most fractured within 3-4 years after loading. It is important to know and apply the measures required to prevent implant fracture, and to seek the best individualized solution for each case - though complete implant removal is usually the treatment of choice.
authors.affiliation: Oral Surgery and Implantology, School of Dentistry of the University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gargallo Albiol
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satorres-Nieto
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Puyuelo Capablo
authors.forename: María Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sánchez Garcés
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pi Urgell
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gay Escoda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015921:Dental Implants; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants