Less Invasive Surgical Procedures Using Narrow-Diameter Implants: A Prospective Study in 20 Consecutive Patients

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Implantology
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Narrow-diameter implants (NDIs) are increasingly utilized in implant dentistry due to advancements in materials.
• Evaluating the clinical performance of NDIs in thin alveolar crests is crucial for treatment planning.

Observation:

• Thirty-nine 3.3 mm NDIs were placed in 20 patients with alveolar bone thickness ≤6 mm.
• Most implants achieved high primary stability (>20 Ncm) and were immediately loaded.
• Guided bone regeneration (GBR) was avoided in 60% of implant sites.

Findings:

• Implant survival and success rates reached 94.7% after a 1-year follow-up.
• Mean peri-implant bone remodeling was -0.35 mm.
• Higher bone remodeling occurred in posterior regions with thinner crests (<4 mm) requiring GBR.

Implications:

• NDIs are an effective option for partial edentations in sites with limited horizontal bone thickness, often obviating the need for GBR.
• Immediate provisionalization of NDIs does not appear to negatively impact clinical outcomes.