title: Behavior of endosseous one-piece yttrium stabilized zirconia dental implants placed in posterior areas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Considering that zirconia dental implants are indicated for the rehabilitation of highly esthetic areas, the aim of this work was to investigate the functional behavior of these implants positioned in the posterior regions of the jaws.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 6 patients with 14 zirconia implants positioned in posterior (molar) areas of the jaws. Immediately after surgery, all implants were restored with temporary crowns or bridges. Clinical radiographic evaluation was performed 6 months after surgery and subsequently every year. At these follow-up visits, periodontal indexes were recorded and peri-apical radiographs were taken in order to calculate marginal bone loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success and survival rates were 100%. The modified bleeding index (mBI) and modified plaque index (mPLI) were respectively equal to 0.57±0.51 and 0.29 ± 0.47 at 4-year follow-up. The overall mean probing depth of the implants was 3.13±0.87 mm. The mean marginal bone loss was +0.665 mm 4 years after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the limits of our study, as regards to the data concerning peri-implant tissue health, marginal bone loss and survival and success rates of zirconium implants placed in posterior areas, we can conclude that the data reported are very encouraging although the number of implants observed is still limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation School of Oral Surgery Istituto Stomatologico Italiano University of Milan, Milan, Italy - virna.vavassori@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Borgonovo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vavassori
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Censi
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Re
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology; D003442:Crowns; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019250:Dental Implants, Single-Tooth; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008422:Materials Testing; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D016348:Osseointegration; D010514:Periodontal Pocket; D015019:Yttrium; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; C499362:yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia; D015019:Yttrium; D015040:Zirconium