The single-tooth implant: a viable alternative for single-tooth replacement.

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Prosthodontics
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Single-tooth dental implants face unique challenges due to lack of lateral support and increased masticatory forces.
• This can lead to a higher risk of failure compared to other implant restorations.
• A prospective clinical trial was conducted to assess the success of dual acid-etched single-tooth implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cumulative success rate of dual acid-etched single-tooth replacement implants.
• To compare the performance of these implants against bridged implants and other single-tooth implant studies.

Main Methods:

• A prospective clinical trial involving 59 patients (19-73 years) and 71 implants.
• Implants were placed in the maxilla and mandible, including in poor quality bone (Type IV).
• Follow-up ranged from 30.9 to 60 months (mean 45.9 months), evaluating mobility, infection, and bone loss.

Main Results:

• Overall success rate of 98.6% with only one implant failure due to peri-implant infection.
• Implants demonstrated good performance in anterior and posterior locations, and in Type IV bone.
• No significant differences were noted in implant performance based on location or bone quality.

Conclusions:

• Dual acid-etched single-tooth implants achieve a high success rate, comparable to bridged implants.
• These implants are a reliable option, performing well even in poor bone quality and immediate replacement scenarios.
• The findings support the use of dual acid-etched implants for single-tooth restorations.