Marginal bone reaction to oral implants: a prospective comparative study of Astra Tech and Brånemark System implants

In earlier studies of Astra Tech and Brånemark System implants, high survival rates and small marginal bone changes have been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to compare the two systems, primarily with regard to marginal bone changes, but also with regard to other clinical variables of interest. The present paper describes the results after three years. Sixty-six patients were included in the study and randomly assigned to treatment with Astra Tech implants (n = 184) or Brånemark System implants (n=187). The marginal bone level was radiographically examined at fixture insertion, at abutment connection, at baseline (delivery of the prosthetic construction) and at 1- and 3-year follow-up examinations. Between fixture insertion and the baseline examination, the pattern of marginal bone resorption differed between the two systems. However, there was no significant marginal bone change between baseline and the 1-year examination or between the 1- and 3-year examinations. Nor were there any differences between the systems. The mean bone loss in the upper jaw between BL (baseline) and 3 years was 0.2 +/- 0.3 mm for Astra Tech implants and 0.2 +/- 0.1 mm for Brånemark System implants. The corresponding figures for the lower jaw were 0.3 +/- 0.2 mm and 0.2 +/- 0.1 mm. The survival rate of Astra Tech implants was significantly higher (98.9%) than for Brånemark System implants (95.2%). However, five of the nine implant losses in the Brånemark group occurred in one patient. For that reason, this result must be interpreted with caution. The number of patients with implant losses did not differ significantly between the systems. Few complications were recorded up to 3 years.