Short implants (6 mm) installed immediately into extraction sockets: an experimental study in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of implant length (6 mm vs.11 mm) on osseointegration (bone-to-implant contact) of implants installed into sockets immediately after tooth extraction.


METHODS
In six Labrador dogs, the pulp tissue of the mesial roots of (3) P(3) was removed and the root canals were filled. Flaps were elevated bilaterally, the premolars hemi-sectioned and the distal roots removed. Recipient sites were prepared in the distal alveolus and a 6 mm or an 11 mm long implant was installed at the test and control sites, respectively. Non-submerged healing was allowed. After 4 months of healing, block sections of the implant sites were obtained for histological processing and peri-implant tissue assessment.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found between test and control sites both for hard and soft tissue parameters. The bone-to-implant contact evaluated at the apical region of the implants was similar as well. Although not statistically significant, the location of the top of the bony crest at the buccal aspect was more apical in relation to the implant shoulder at the test compared with the control sites (2.0 ± 1.4 and 1.2 ± 1.1 mm, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Shorter implants (6 mm) present with equal osseointegration than do longer implants (11 mm).
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medical Science, La Habana, Cuba.
Eriberto
E
Bressan
Stefano
S
Sivolella
Zoraya Almagro
ZA
Urrutia
Luiz Antonio
LA
Salata
Niklaus Peter
NP
Lang
Daniele
D
Botticelli
D000818:Animals; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004285:Dogs; D016348:Osseointegration; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000601:surgery*
D015921:Dental Implants