title: Preliminary results of fixed, fiber-reinforced resin bridges on four 4- × 5-mm ultrashort implants in compromised bony sites: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of fixed, fiber-reinforced resin bridges on 4 ultrashort implants with a sufficient implant survival success rate of at least 90% in highly atrophic jaws.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective temporal cohort study was designed, with the inclusion of 10 patients. Of the 10 patients, 8 had atrophic jaws (7 women, 1 man; mean age at implant placement 58.5 years, range 40.7 to 73.9) and 2 had fibula-mandibular transplants (1 woman, aged 76.5 years; and 1 man, aged 69.3 years). All 10 patients had their dentition restored with 4 ultrashort implants. The implant dimensions were 4 mm in diameter and 5 mm long, with a locking taper abutment connection supporting a fixed, fiber-reinforced and composite resin-facetted bridge. The postoperative follow-up period averaged 19.5 months (range 9.1 to 33.1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival and success rate was 97.25%. The average mesial and distal bone level was 0.2 ± 0.3 mm in the atrophic mandibles and 0.4 ± 1.2 mm in the fibula transplants at the last follow-up visit. Prosthetic-related patient issues were limited to decementation events. No chipping or fracturing of the prostheses was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retention of fixed prosthetic restorations using 4 ultrashort implants showed promising short-term cumulative survival and success rates.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, University Clinic of Cranio-, Maxillofacial- and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: rudolf.seemann@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seemann
authors.affiliation: Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Dental Medicine, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Columbia.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marincola
authors.affiliation: Student, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seay
authors.affiliation: Assistant Clinical Professor, University Clinic of Cranio-, Maxillofacial- and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perisanidis
authors.affiliation: Student, Bernhard Gottlieb University Clinic of Dentistry, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barger
authors.affiliation: Professor Emeritus, University Clinic of Cranio-, Maxillofacial- and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ewers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003781:Denture Retention; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000379:methods; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D017640:Silicates; C574687:ceramage; D015040:Zirconium