Analysis of incidence and associated factors with fractured implants: a retrospective study

Osseointegrated threaded titanium screw-type implants rarely lose integration after the first year of clinical function. Implant failure can occur for other reasons, with implant fracture being one of the major reasons for late failure. The purpose of the present study was to determine the incidence of implant fracture in completely edentulous and partially edentulous arches and to determine what factors may predispose an implant to a higher fracture risk. A retrospective evaluation of 4,937 implants was performed to determine the incidence of and factors common to fractured implants from a sample of implants placed and restored in one institutional setting. Based on the results of this study, the following observations were made: implants fracture at similar rates in the maxilla as in the mandible (0.6%), implant fractures occur more frequently in partially edentulous restorations (1.5%) than in restorations of completely edentulous arches (0.2%), all observed fractures occurred with commercially pure 3.75-mm-diameter threaded implants, and prosthetic or abutment screw loosening preceded implant fracture for the majority of the implants. More studies would be helpful to further explore the relationship and progression of factors associated with implant fracture.