Posterior implant single-tooth replacement and status of adjacent teeth during a 10-year period: a retrospective report.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this case series study was to evaluate posterior single-tooth implant survival and the long-term conditions of the adjacent teeth.


METHODS
A retrospective evaluation of 1,162 consecutive patients with a single missing posterior tooth treated with 1,377 external hex implants supporting 1,365 restorations surrounded by natural teeth over a 1- to 10-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 up to 10 years of follow-up. Long-term adjacent tooth conditions were assessed, including decay, endodontic therapy (root canal therapy [RCT]), and/or extraction during the follow-up period.


RESULTS
Of the 1,377 implants inserted, there were 11 surgical failures from stage I to stage II healing. There was one failure from stage II healing to prosthesis delivery. There were two prosthetic-phase failures. The surgical success rate was 99.2%, whereas the overall survival rate was 98.9% at an average of 61 months of follow-up (range, 12 to 125 months). A total of 2,589 adjacent teeth were followed during the study. No natural adjacent tooth was lost during this period. Interproximal decay developed in 129 adjacent teeth (5%), and nine adjacent teeth required RCT (0.4%) as a result of decay or restoration.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of single-tooth implants as replacements for posterior missing teeth is a viable long-term treatment. Adjacent natural teeth complications are minimal for as long as 10 years after implant insertion.
Misch
Carl E
CE
Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. info@misch.com
Misch-Dietsh
Francine
F
Silc
Jennifer
J
Barboza
Eliane
E
Cianciola
Louis J
LJ
Kazor
Christopher
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult