Oral rehabilitation with tilted dental implants: a metaanalysis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the course of patients treated with tilted implants versus those treated conventionally with axial implants, analyzing the success rate and marginal bone loss.


METHODS
A PubMed search was made using the key words "tilted implants ", "angled implants ", "angulated implants ", "inclined implants " and "maxillary atrophy. " A review was made of the articles published between 1999-2010. The inclusion criteria were the use of tilted implants, clinical series involving at least 10 patients, and a minimum follow-up of 12 months after prosthetic loading. The exclusion criteria were isolated clinical cases, studies with missing data, and publications in languages other than English or Spanish. The metaanalysis finally included 13 articles: 7 retrospective studies and 6 prospective studies.


RESULTS
On analyzing the success rate in the retrospective studies, two reported a higher success rate with tilted implants; one a higher success rate with axial implants; and two reported similar success rates with both implants. On analyzing the success rate in the prospective studies, two reported a higher success rate with tilted implants; two a higher success rate with axial implants; and two reported similar success rates with both implants. On examining marginal bone loss, three studies reported greater bone loss with axial implants and one with tilted implants.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no evidence of differences in success rate between tilted and axial implants in either the prospective or retrospective studies subjected to review. The marginal bone loss observed with the tilted and axial implants likewise proved very similar. It thus can be deduced that tilted implants exhibit the same evolutive behavior as axial implants.
Valencian Health Service, Master in Oral Surgery and Medicine, Master in Oral Surgery and Implantology, Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain. javiataali@hotmail.com
Javier
J
Ata-Ali
David
D
Peñarrocha-Oltra
Eugenia
E
Candel-Marti
Maria
M
Peñarrocha-Diago
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans
D015921:Dental Implants