Comparing 4‐mm dental implants to longer implants placed in augmented bones in the atrophic posterior mandibles: One‐year results of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Short implants have been proposed as an alternative for the rehabilitation of atrophic edentulous areas. Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of 4‐mm implants vs longer implants in the atrophic posterior mandibles. Materials and Methods Eleven patients with bilateral atrophic mandibles were rehabilitated with two to four 4‐mm implants and 10 or 8‐mm long implants in augmented bone using Guided Bone Regeneration procedure. One side of the mandibles was randomly allocated to vertical augmentation with mixed autogenous bone and allograft. Implants were placed in both sides of the mandible after 6 months, and loaded after another 2 months. Subsequently, implant and prosthesis failures, marginal bone levels changes, and any complication were evaluated after 1‐year follow‐up. Results In this study, one patient dropped out and no failures occurred. However, 4‐mm implants loss of 0.30 ± 0.34 mm peri‐implant marginal bone and long implants loss of 0.47 ± 0.54 mm marginal bone were observed after 1‐year of follow‐up. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (difference = −0.16 ± 0.68 mm; P = 0.46). Eight complications occurred in five augmented sites of the patients, and no complication was found to occur in the short implants sites. Conclusions One‐year after loading, 4‐mm implants had similar outcomes as long implants in augmented bone. Therefore, short implants might be a feasible treatment in atrophic mandibles.

Are <7‐mm long implants in native bone as effective as longer implants in augmented bone for the rehabilitation of posterior atrophic jaws? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Figure 1 is a flowchart of the screening process. In total, 13 studies 8,35‐46 were included in this systematic review. For five of them 35‐37,41,44 the results were reported in multiple publications, so that a total of 25 articles 8,10,35‐57 were considered in the analysis.…”

“…In total, 13 studies 8,35‐46 were included in this systematic review. For five of them 35‐37,41,44 the results were reported in multiple publications, so that a total of 25 articles 8,10,35‐57 were considered in the analysis. Thirty‐six articles 15,58‐92 were excluded after full‐text evaluation.…”

“…As there were three studies with a split‐mouth design, that recruited a total of 80 patients, the total number of patients enrolled in the 13 studies was 738. Four studies had a follow‐up of 1 year, 38‐40,43 one of 2 years, 46 three of 3 years, 8,42,45 four of 5 years, 35‐37,44 and one of 8 years 41 (Table 2). Six studies have been performed in Italy, 35‐37,40,41,45 two in China, 39,46 one each in Brazil, 8 Iran, 43 Poland, 42 United States, 38 and a multicenter study in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, and United States 44 .…”

“…Four studies had a follow‐up of 1 year, 38‐40,43 one of 2 years, 46 three of 3 years, 8,42,45 four of 5 years, 35‐37,44 and one of 8 years 41 (Table 2). Six studies have been performed in Italy, 35‐37,40,41,45 two in China, 39,46 one each in Brazil, 8 Iran, 43 Poland, 42 United States, 38 and a multicenter study in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, and United States 44 . Five studies treated patients in both maxilla and mandible, 35‐38,40 six studies only in the maxilla, 8,39,42,44‐46 and two only in the mandible 41,43 …”

Comparing short dental implant and standard dental implant in terms of marginal bone level changes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Technically, these procedures are very sensitive and it is likely that they bring about considerable postoperative complication like graft resorption and severe pain or neurosensory disturbance. Hence, short dental implants have been introduced as an alternative approach; it is an easy procedure, is performed quicker, and costs less for rehabilitation of atrophic edentulous areas to overcome drawbacks of other surgical techniques …”