title: One-year follow-up of titanium/zirconium alloy X commercially pure titanium narrow-diameter implants placed in the molar region of the mandible: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze marginal bone loss (MBL) and clinical parameters around narrow-diameter implants (NDIs - 3.3 mm) made of titanium/zirconium alloy (TiZr) in comparison with commercially pure titanium (cpTi) installed in the molar region of the mandible after 1 year in function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients participated in the study. A TiZr and a cpTi NDI were randomly installed in contralateral molar sites of the mandible of each patient in a split-mouth design. Eight weeks after healing, all metal-ceramic single crowns were adapted to the implants and patients were enrolled in a plaque control program. MBL at the mesial and distal aspects of the implants were evaluated by comparing periapical radiographs taken immediately after prosthesis installation (T1) and 1 year after loading (T2). Clinical probing depth, bleeding on probing, suppuration, visible plaque and implant mobility were evaluated to determine implant success and survival rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean MBL at the interproximal aspects of TiZr implant sites was 0.32 ± 0.27 mm, while at cpTi implant sites mean MBL was 0.35 ± 0.24 mm (P = 0.60). Both TiZr and cpTi NDIs presented 100% implant survival and success rates, with no significant differences in the clinical parameters studied (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TiZr and cpTi NDIs presented similar outcomes after 1 year in function in the molar region of the mandible. The results suggest that TiZr and cpTi NDIs may be equally used to support single crowns in the posterior area of the mouth. However, further studies with longer follow-up periods are necessary to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tolentino
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sukekava
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Aracaju, Brazil.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcez-Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tormena
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Araújo
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar; D014025:Titanium; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium
keywords: bone-implant interactions; clinical research; prosthodontics