title: Outcome of Brånemark Novum implant treatment in edentulous mandibles: a retrospective 5-year follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A gradual progression from a two-stage surgical technique to a one-stage and even immediate surgical protocol has occurred during the last decade with most oral implant systems. However, every new approach must obviously be reported individually, with long-term results, in order to assess whether the changes have any real patient value.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present report was to retrospectively review the 5-year outcome of patients treated with the Brånemark Novum (Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first 15 patients treated according to the Novum procedure in a private specialist clinic in Lovere, Italy, were followed-up with clinical, radiographic, and resonance frequency analyses. All the patients' fixed constructions had been in function for an average of 5 years. Parameters recorded were implant survival, prosthesis success, oral hygiene and mucosal health, marginal bone remodeling, type and frequency of complications, and patient's opinion of the treatment outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 5 years, the cumulative survival rate for implants was 91%, and for inserted bridge constructions it was 87%. Very small changes in implant stability occurred during implant loading from 1 to 5 years. Oral health conditions were good; 87% of mucosal quadrants around the implants were free from signs of inflammation. Very small marginal bone height changes were observed at the implants during the examination period, and except for four implant losses reported, severe complications were few. All patients were satisfied with the functional outcome of their constructions, but two patients were not completely happy with the aesthetics of their bridgework as supplied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report shows 5-year evidence of acceptably good results with the Brånemark Novum implant technique in edentulous mandibles, when using only three implants to support the fixed bridge construction, and as long as inserted implants become and remain osseointegrated.
authors.affiliation: The Gualini Specialist Clinic, Lovere, Italy. fguali@tin.it
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gualini
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gualini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cominelli
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lekholm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants