title: Radiographic Evaluation of Crestal Bone Level in Split-Crest and Immediate Implant Placement: Minimum 5-Year Follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic bone level changes of implants positioned via the split-crest procedure both in the maxilla and mandible at a long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients were retrospectively enrolled in the study. The placement of 137 dental implants was performed in the edentulous premolar or molar region after a split-crest ridge expansion procedure. Implants followed a delayed loading protocol. Intraoral digital radiographs were performed at baseline, upon implant placement, at 70 days (following placement of the provisional prosthesis), and on a yearly basis during followup. Crestal bone levels were evaluated at the baseline, upon provisional prosthesis placement, at 12, 36, and 60 months, and at the long-term follow-up of healing from implant placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients underwent a mean follow-up of 6.54 ± 1.32 years, from which the implant survival rate was reported at 98.54%. Within the first year from implant placement, a bone loss resulted at a mean value of -1.11 ± 0.44 mm. After almost 3 years from implant placement, a mean bone gain of +0.89 ± 0.39 mm was reported, which was statistically significant compared with 12-month values (P < .05). From this point, bone levels remained stable, reporting similar values over time, with no significant differences (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A mean vertical bone gain of +0.89 ± 0.39 mm was observed after almost 36 months after implant positioning.
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capparé
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bravi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gherlone
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crespi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants