[How to interpret success rates in implantology]

How can almost every oral implant manufacturer claim success rate of nearly 100%, when clinicians are still in the process to include implants in their practice. Articles on long-term data are still scarce in the international Journals today. Often the different safety and effectiveness of various implant systems are based on the data that Professor Brånemark started to collect 25 years ago. To interpret an article demands knowledge about study design, statistical analyses as well as type of diagram. There are number of important aspects to consider when reading a report on success rates. To understand why some studies can show almost 100% success rates for the upper jaws and others 80%, one must be aware of the important parameters which affect the results. In order to compare the results of one study with the results of another, these parameters, and how they are applied must be taken into consideration.