title: Pre-fabricated zirconium dioxide implant abutments for single-tooth replacement in the posterior region: success and failure after 3 years of function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zirconia implant abutments have gained a much broader clinical use over the past few years. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical performance of a pre-fabricated zirconium dioxide implant abutment for single-tooth replacement in the posterior region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty implants of the XiVE(®) S plus screw type (DENTSPLY Friadent, Mannheim, Germany) were inserted in the posterior region of 24 patients and provided with zirconium dioxide abutments (FRIADENT(®) CERCON(®) Abutment, DENTSPLY Friadent). The following parameters were used to document the state of soft tissue: modified plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index and pocket depth. Mesial and distal bone levels were determined on radiographs during the prosthetic treatment and at the 36-month recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven implants could be followed up after 36 months in function. One patient wearing two abutments was lost to follow-up. One abutment exhibited a rotational misfit after 2 years in function. A further abutment showed the same failure at the 36-months recall appointment. In the remaining 36 implants the soft and hard tissue parameters were indicative of a low inflammatory status. Compared to the baseline situation, a partly significant bone apposition could be observed. Chipping of parts of the veneering ceramic was registered in 22% of the remaining implant restorations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of zirconia abutments in this study lead to mainly healthy peri-implant hard and soft tissue conditions but, considering the observed failures after 3 years in function, clinical long-term results should be awaited before recommending full zirconia implant abutments in a posterior indication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials Sciences, Saarland University , Homburg/Saar , Germany.
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Nothdurft
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nonhoff
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Pospiech
mesh_terms: D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: Biomaterials; clinical research; clinical trials; soft tissue-implant interactions; zirconia