Prosthodontic Outcomes of Implant-Supported Single Crowns on Short Dental Implants

Abstract

Background: Short dental implants were introduced to avoid advanced surgical procedures. The survival and failure rates of super structures on short implants has not been previously investigated in the UAE. This study assessed the prosthodontic outcomes of implant-supported single crowns on short implants within Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Materials and methods: The case records of all patients treated with implants at Al-Badaa Health Center were reviewed for the 3-year period from January 2014 to December 2016. All cases that received a short implant, defined as ≤8mm were included in the study. A data collection form was devised to capture patient demographic data including age and gender as well as several implant variables regarding type, length, position and connection.

Results: A total of 211 patients with 211 short dental implants were included in this retrospective study. Most subjects were female (n=127) with a mean age of 48.34 years (12.23) and the 84 males had a mean age of 54.65 years (15.49). The males were significantly older than females (p<0.001). The complications of implant supported crowns were categorized as screw/abutment loosening, chipped ceramic or cement dissolution. The survival rate by gender of implant crowns without complications was not statistically different with 73 in males and 104 in females. The most commonly placed short implant was Ankylos (134) followed by Astra (60) and Xive (17). The overall failure rate was2.4% (n=5) with no statistical difference by implant type. Analysis of implant length and diameter on clinical outcome of failure/survival found no differences even if diameter was dichotomized on<4.0mm or ≥4.0mm. Most implants were placed in the upper arch. The frequency distribution of failure was not different according to mode of crown retention nor to crown material. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival indicated that the first failures occurred 8-10 months after implant loading.

Conclusion: The majority of short dental implant supported crowns reviewed in this study were successful over the 3-year period of assessment. Failures were not associated with type or size of implant.