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Meta-analysis of single crowns supported by short (<10 mm) implants in the posterior region
Luis André Mezzomo1, Rodrigo Miller, Diego Triches
1Department of Prosthodontics, Post-Graduate Program in Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Aim:
To assess the failures and complications of short (<10 mm) implants supporting single crowns in the posterior region and its potential risk factors (RkF).
Materials And Methods:
Prospective studies were screened according to eligibility criteria, followed by contact with authors. Quality assessment was performed using a standardized protocol. Mean implant failure proportion (FP), biological and prosthetic failure proportions (BFP/PFP) and marginal bone loss (MBL) including 95% confidence intervals were estimated using random-effects models for meta-analysis.
Results:
Sixteen studies with a medium methodological quality (mean score: 8 ± 3; 2-14) had data collected. In summary, 762 short implants were followed up for up to 120 months in 360 patients (mean follow-up: 44 ± 33.72 months; mean dropout rate: 5.1%). The means FP, BFP, PFP and MBL were 5.9% (95%CI: 3.7-9.2%), 3.8% (95%CI: 1.9-7.4%), 2.8% (95%CI: 1.4-5.7%) and 0.83 mm (95%CI: 0.54-1.12 mm) respectively. Quantitative analysis showed that placement in the mandible (p = 0.0002) and implants with length ≤8 mm (p = 0.01) increased FP, BFP and MBL, whereas qualitative assessment revealed that crown-to-implant ratio did not influence MBL.
Conclusions:
Single crowns supported by short implants in the posterior region are a predictable treatment option with reduced failure rates, biological/prosthetic complications and minimal bone loss.
