Single-Crown, Short and Ultra-Short Implants, in Association with Simultaneous Internal Sinus Lift in the Atrophic Posterior Maxilla: A Three-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

As the atrophic posterior maxilla often presents serious limitations for dental implant procedures, a minimally invasive technique was proposed. The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of short and ultra-short locking-taper implants, placed in combination with a modified osteotome sinus floor elevation procedure (internal sinus lift technique) in the posterior maxilla. A total of 31 patients received 51 locking-taper implants. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed before treatment, at loading time, and after three years. Seven implants of 8.0 mm, 23 implants of 6.0 mm, and 21 implants 5.0 mm in length were rehabilitated with single-crown restorations. Implant survival at three-year follow-up was 96.08%. Pre-operative residual crestal bone height of 5.2 (1.41) (median (interquartile range)) mm increased to 7.59 (1.97) mm at the 36-month follow-up, with an average intra-sinus bone height gain of 3.17 ± 1.13 (mean ± standard deviation) mm. Mean peri-implant crestal bone loss was 0.29 (0.46) mm and mean first bone-to-implant contact point shifted apically to 0.12 (0.34) mm. It can be suggested with confidence that implants used in the study, placed in conjunction with an internal sinus floor elevation technique, can be restored with single crowns as a predictable treatment for the edentulous regions of the posterior maxilla.

Assessment of Peri-Implant Soft Tissues Conditions around Short and Ultra-Short Implant-Supported Single Crowns: A 3-Year Retrospective Study on Periodontally Healthy Patients and Patients with a History of Periodontal Disease

“…Patients included in the study had been referred between February 2007 and June 2015 for edentulism (tooth loss caused by trauma, caries or periodontal disease) in the posterior areas of maxilla and mandible at the Dental and Maxillo-Facial Surgery Clinic at the University of Verona (Italy). A 3-year follow-up retrospective study [ 34 , 35 ] was conducted between June and October 2018. The study was approved by the University of Verona Institutional Review Board (Prot.…”

“…34934, TISSUESMAXMAND, 30/05/18). The study was conducted (see Appendix A ) according to guidelines previously described [ 34 , 35 ].…”

“…Patients enrolled for the study matched the following inclusion criteria [ 34 , 35 ]: aged between 18 and 90 years; single-tooth replacement of at least one 8.0, 6.0 or 5.0 mm locking-taper implant supporting a single crown; had no previous consent for bone augmentation procedures; had a history of treated chronic periodontal diseases or never being affected by any forms of periodontal disease; compliance to the regular maintenance program (professional oral hygiene sessions every four months).…”

“…Exclusion criteria comprehended several conditions (see Appendix A ), as previously described [ 34 , 35 ].…”

“…The implant system used in this study presented specific characteristics [ 34 , 35 ]. Moreover, pre-surgical evaluation was conducted as previously described [ 34 , 35 ] (see Appendix A ).…”