Radiographic bone level around particular laser-treated dental implants: 1 to 6 years multicenter retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Implantology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Dental implants are crucial for tooth replacement.
• Optimizing implant surfaces is key to improving osseointegration and long-term success.
• Laser-modified surfaces offer a novel approach to enhance implant performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess clinical and radiological outcomes of dental implants with a laser-treated surface.
• To evaluate implant survival rates, marginal bone loss, and peri-implantitis incidence.
• To determine the effect of an innovative laser-modified titanium surface on bone regeneration and stability.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 502 dental implants with laser-modified surfaces (Synthegra®).
• Implants placed between 2008-2013 across four dental practices.
• Minimum 1-year follow-up post-restoration, with radiographs taken at insertion, loading, and recall.

Main Results:

• Mean marginal bone loss was minimal (0.05-0.08 mm) over a mean follow-up of 35.76 months.
• Bone growth was observed coronally in 50.7% of sites.
• 8.8% showed no radiographic changes, while 38.5% exhibited bone resorption.

Conclusions:

• Laser-modified titanium implants demonstrate stable marginal bone levels and potential for bone growth.
• The unique surface characteristics may inhibit bacterial colonization, leading to low peri-implantitis rates.
• Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these findings.