[Frialit ceramic implants--a four-year follow-up study]

Sixty-two ceramic implants (Frialit) were installed in 53 patients with agenesia or loss of single teeth due to traumata or infection. Sixty-three per cent of the implants were operated in immediately after tooth extraction, whereas the rest were installed in a healed bony alveolar ridge. Eighty-five per cent of the implants were replacements for maxillary incisors. The average observation period was 4 years. During this period 10 implants were removed due to lack of osseointegration. Seven of these implants were lost in the healing period, the remaining 3 were removed after installation of the suprastructure. Eighty-four percent of the implants were successful after 4 years. Trauma in the maxillary region have caused fracture of the implants in 5 patients. Such incidents create therapeutic problems difficult to solve satisfactorily.