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How successful are small-diameter implants? A literature review
Keyvan Sohrabi1, Ammar Mushantat, Shahrokh Esfandiari
1Deptartment of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Clinical Oral Implants Research
|February 9, 2012
Summary
Small-diameter implants (SDIs) demonstrate high survival rates comparable to standard implants, offering a viable solution for edentate patients. Implant length influences survival, with shorter SDIs showing higher failure rates.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Prosthodontics
- Oral Surgery
Background:
- Edentulism presents a significant global challenge, with conventional complete dentures as the primary treatment.
- Implant overdentures offer advantages over conventional dentures, but cost and surgical fear deter some edentate elders.
- Small-diameter implants (SDIs) present a potential solution to overcome barriers to implant treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the survival rates of small-diameter implants (SDIs) over the past two decades.
- To assess if SDI survival differs based on flapless versus flap reflection surgical techniques.
- To investigate the relationship between SDI length and implant survival.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies published between 1993 and 2011.
- Inclusion criteria: implants ≤3.5 mm diameter, RCT/cohort design, ≥5-month follow-up, survival data.
- Data synthesis from 41 studies involving 10,093 SDIs in 2,762 patients.
Main Results:
- Overall SDI survival rate exceeded 90%, with some studies reporting 100% survival.
- Survival rates were comparable between flapless and flap reflection techniques.
- Higher failure rates were observed in shorter SDIs (≤13 mm) compared to longer ones.
Conclusions:
- SDIs exhibit survival rates similar to standard-width implants.
- Surgical technique (flap vs. flapless) did not significantly impact SDI survival.
- Shorter SDIs demonstrated a higher failure rate, suggesting length is a critical factor.
- SDIs are a promising, cost-effective option for fixed restorations and mandibular overdentures, especially for elders.
