title: Impact of dental implant length on early failure rates: a meta-analysis of observational studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the null hypothesis of no difference in failure rates of short (minimum length: 7 mm) and longer dental implants (≥ 10 mm), a meta-analysis was performed on prospective observational trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic electronic and hand search was performed to identify eligible studies. Having additional data supplied by the authors, 54 publications were included (19,083 implants).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In case of mandibular implants, the null hypothesis of no impact of reduced implant length on failure within the first year of prosthetic loading could not be rejected. A significant impact of implant length could be substantiated for short machined implants in the anterior [odds ratio (OR) 5.4] and posterior maxilla (OR 3.4), while short rough-surfaced implants demonstrated increased failure rates in the anterior maxillary sites. No influence of implant diameter and denture type on the failure rate of short implants could be revealed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In areas of reduced alveolar bone height the use of short dental implants may reduce the need for invasive bone augmentation procedures.
authors: Department of Oral Surgery, Bernhard Gottlieb School of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. bernhard.pommer@meduniwien.ac.at
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Pommer
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Frantal
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Willer
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Posch
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Watzek
authors: Gabor
authors: G
authors: Tepper
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D006801:Humans; D019370:Observation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants