title: Immediate provisional restoration of single-piece zirconia implants: a prospective case series - results after 24 months of clinical function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this prospective case series was to evaluate the outcome of immediately provisionalized single-piece zirconia implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 zirconia implants were inserted in single-tooth gaps in the maxilla (11) and mandible (9) of 20 patients. Implants were restored with all-ceramic CAD/CAM provisionals without occlusal contacts immediately after placement. Permanent all-ceramic restoration was performed 4 months after surgery. Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), Periotest(®) (PV), pink aesthetic score (PES), mean radiographic marginal bone levels (MBL), implant survival and success were evaluated up to 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment of PI at baseline and follow-ups after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months revealed 27% (±5.3), 24% (±6), 23% (±6.1), 23% (±5.3) and 22% (±6.4), respectively. Evaluation of BOP revealed 25% (±5.6), 21% (±6), 21% (±7.2), 18% (±5.9) and 15% (±5.5), respectively. Implants presented stable at follow-ups (PV). PES improved, but not statistically significant from 8.13 (±1.5) at baseline to 10 (±2) 24 months after implantation. Measurements of MBL showed a significant bone loss of 1.01 mm within the first year after placement (P < 0.001) and 1.29 mm 24 months post-implant insertion, not reaching further statistically significant levels (P > 0.05). One implant was lost 4 months after placement, resulting in a survival and success rate of 95%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical and radiographic parameters demonstrated a 95% integration of immediately loaded zirconia single-piece implants. A long-term randomized-controlled clinical trial was initiated to confirm evidence of this protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. mi.payer@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Payer
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arnetzl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirmeier
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: Gerwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arnetzl
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jakse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide