title: A Retrospective Clinical Study with Regard to Survival and Success Rates of Zirconia Implants up to and after 7 Years of Loading.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to retrospectively investigate the clinical performance of first-generation zirconia implants with a sandblasted surface up to and after 7 years of loading.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of patients treated with zirconia implants between 2004 and 2009 were screened. Consequently, adequate patients were invited to a clinical and radiographic investigation to classify each implant according to strict success criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one patients receiving 161 implants were available for the evaluation. Overall, 36 implants (22.4%) were lost due to early (n = 14) and late failures (n = 4) or fractures (n = 18). All surviving 125 implants fulfilled the success criteria. None of the investigated implants had a history of peri-implant infections. Mean values with regard to gingival index, plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, and probing depth were 0.03, 0.23, 0.59, and 2.80 mm, respectively. The radiographically evaluated mean crestal bone loss was 0.97 ± 0.07 mm. Diameter-reduced implants (3.25 mm) showed lower survival (58.5%) compared with implants with a diameter of 4.0 mm (88.9%) and 5.0 mm (78.6%). The overall longitudinal survival rate was 77.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-generation zirconia implants showed low overall survival and success rates. The evaluated clinical and radiographic parameters were consistent with healthy peri-implant tissues. Additionally, nonfractured failures were not associated with peri-implant infections.
authors: Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Hightech Research Center, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Department of Periodontics, Health and Science Center at San Antonio, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Roehling
authors: University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany.
authors: Henriette
authors: H
authors: Woelfler
authors: Department for Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Hicklin
authors: Private Dental Clinic Dres. Kniha and Gahlert, Munich, Germany.
authors: Heinz
authors: H
authors: Kniha
authors: Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Hightech Research Center, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.|Private Dental Clinic Dres. Kniha and Gahlert, Munich, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gahlert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D015040:Zirconium
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide
keywords: clinical study; implant survival; implantology; long-term study; long-term survival; retrospective; sandblasted; success rate; survival rate; zirconia