The long-term success of Brånemark implants has been previously reported. The success rate of the same implants, when associated with autologous grafts, seemed much less predictable. In the present study it is demonstrated that when these implants are installed in conjunction with an autologous corticocancellous hip graft, either onlay or inlay, the cumulative success rate remains at 95% for individual implants in non-smokers. The short extracorporal time might be an explanation. On the other hand, the same approach in patients with congenital defects or who underwent radiotherapy is deceptive. The use of hyperbaric oxygen may dramatically improve these results.

Clinical data indicate different medium and long-term outcomes of endosseous implants for different implant configurations and in particular implant surfaces. The present study compares 2 very similar implant systems but with different surface characteristics in a split-mouth-randomized design. The Astra-Tech (A) system (Astra-Tech AB, Mölndal, Sweden) consisted of selftapping TiO2-blasted screw-shaped implants made of commercially pure titanium, and the Brånemark (B) System (Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) comprised selftapping Mark II implants with machined surface irregularities. Throughout the 2-years' observation period, no significant differences could be found concerning probing depths, presence of plaque or change in marginal bone level. A statistically significant difference in location of the marginal bone level in relation to the shoulder of the implant was found in favor of the A system both at baseline and after 2 years. Cumulative success rates of 100% (A) and 97.7% (B) were not statistically different. From a prosthetic point of view, more soldering points were needed for A compared to B to reach clinical acceptable fit. More years of observation are needed to compare the fate of the soft and hard tissues surrounding two different implant surfaces.

The study failed to demonstrate significant differences in the outcome of the peri-implant bone for two implant systems with different surface characteristics. The marginal bone level around oral implants changed <0.5 mm after 15 years of loading.

So far, preprosthetic surgery for oral defects improved prosthetic retention problems for only a limited amount of time and led to many side-effects. The alternative offered by the osseointegration technique developed by P.-I. Brånemark changed the concept of preprosthetic surgery dramatically. By means of a few permucosal titanium screws, bridges or overdentures can be retained even in cases of advanced jaw bone resorption. When the latter is extreme, an autologous free bone graft fixed by means of self-tapping titanium implants can offer the necessary support for sometimes elaborate prosthetic reconstructions. The marginal bone loss around Brånemark implants is very limited after a 1st year of bone remodelling, even when an autologous transplant has been used.