Clinical evaluation of single-tooth mini-implant restorations: a five-year retrospective study

Placement of small diameter implants often provides a solution to space problems in implant restoration. Analysis of the success of this type of implant restoration has not been clearly determined.

This 5-year retrospective study presents results from 52 mini-implants for single-tooth restorations placed in 44 patients from 1992 to 1994.

Dental records of 44 patients with 52 mini-implants placed during 1992-94 were reviewed. The implants were all placed by the same surgeon and the single-tooth custom screwed posts with cemented crowns were positioned on the implants by the same prosthodontist.

The results achieved by the mini-implant rehabilitation were similar to those reported for standard single-tooth implant restoration. Total implant survival rate was 94.2%. Two implants were lost at second stage surgery, and another was lost after temporary loading.

The results suggest that single-tooth mini-implant restoration can be a successful treatment alternative to solve both functional and esthetic problems. They may represent the preferred choice in cases where space problems limit the use of standard or wide diameter implants.