Immediate restoration of single-tooth implants in mandibular molar sites: a 12-month preliminary report

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the survival rates at 12 months of transmucosal implants placed in the posterior mandible and immediately restored with single crowns.

Thirty ITI dental implants with sandblasted, acid-etched surfaces were placed in 30 patients missing at least 1 mandibular molar and immediately restored if acceptable primary stability was attained. Primary stability was measured with resonance frequency analysis (RFA) using the Osstell device, and only implants with a stability quotient greater than 62 were included in the study. RFA measurement and radiographic assessment were made at baseline and 6 months after implant placement. Plaque Index, Bleeding Index, probing depth, attachment level, and width of keratinized tissue were measured at the 12 month follow-up examination.

At 12 months, only 1 implant had been lost; it was removed because of acute infection. Radiographic as well as clinical examination confirmed osseointegration of all implants, with a survival rate of 96.7%.

Interestingly, implant stability as measured using RFA did not increase significantly from baseline to 12 months (P > .05).

The present study showed that immediate restoration of transmucosal implants placed in the mandibular area with good primary stability can be a safe and successful procedure. However, larger, long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm the present results.